As Oklahoma gears up for the 2026 legislative session, Senator Dusty Deevers has made a pronounced push for immigration reform with the introduction of five "America First" immigration bills. These proposals, aimed squarely at curbing illegal immigration and protecting local labor, seek to shift the employment dynamics across various sectors within the state, as reported Oklahoma Senate.
Senator Deevers, representing Elgin and a member of the Republican party, expressed his motivation for the bills saying, "Reckless federal immigration policies in recent decades are stealing that inheritance and displacing Oklahoma workers," pointing to a desire to preserve jobs for local families and individuals. One of the bills, SB2073, would restrict state entities' ability to employ workers through H1B and OPT visa programs—a move that signals an aggressive stance toward what he argues are lower-paid foreign workers taking roles that Oklahomans could fulfill his claims are grounded in a belief that these positions are often incorrectly touted as being beyond the capabilities of American workers, as they are sometimes entry level and do not always command high salaries, according to the Oklahoma Senate.
In addition to employment-based reforms, SB1850 introduces the use of E-Verify to ensure jobs are indeed going to legal residents, by matching employee records to existing governmental databases; this, Deevers suggests, is a step toward staunching illegal employment practices that can undercut honest business operations. Meanwhile, SB2056 calls for an increase in the tax on remittances, suggesting that funds sent overseas should be limited to retain wealth within Oklahoman borders, as reported by the Oklahoma Senate.
Another contentious item is SB2098, which challenges the long-standing practice of granting citizenship to children born on US soil regardless of their parents' legal status, a direct shot at birthright citizenship—a policy deeply embedded in the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution while legal scrutiny is almost certain, Deevers justifies the proposal as a method to end 'amnesty-by-proxy' and maintain family unity during immigration law enforcement actions. This bill, among others, reflects a keen focus by certain Oklahoma legislators to tailor state policies that align closely with a stringent interpretation of America-first ideologies, as detailed by the Oklahoma Senate.
The legislative session set to begin on February 2nd, promises to be a pivotal moment for these bills and for the state's future immigration landscape, as the proposals are made eligible for hearings and potential enactment. As Oklahomans prepare for the debate ahead, Senator Deevers' proposals stand as a testament to the ongoing national conversation regarding immigration policy and its local implications for the workforce and beyond.
