Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt announced plans for Oklahoma to deport illegal immigrants held in state prisons in support of President-elect Trump's proposal to launch a large-scale deportation operation next year. He said that he is formulating a plan.
Stitt announced he would direct the state's public safety commissioner to develop a plan to deal with inmates illegally present in Oklahoma's prisons and lead efforts to remove them. The plan is expected to be submitted by January, and the state will consult with the Trump transition team and the next administration to implement it.
“It's common sense and it's about restoring the rule of law to Oklahoma,” Stitt downplayed the complexity of the effort in an interview with Fox News Digital.
'100% yes:' Border state offers vast tract of land as trump card to support mass deportation operation
Former President Trump speaks at the U.S.-Mexico border in southern Sierra Vista, Arizona, on August 22, 2024. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
“So these are people who are in the country illegally, who have committed crimes, and we want to make sure they are not a burden to Oklahoma taxpayers,” he said.
There are more than 500 criminally undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma correctional facilities, and housing them costs taxpayers $36,000 a day, according to the state.
President Trump has promised to launch the operation next year, sparking opposition from some Democrats, including from “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Incoming Border Czar Tom Homan said his priorities are public safety and national security threats, but no one is off the table.
Stitt said he was surprised by the opposition from some Democrats, given the focus on ridding the country of criminals.
Governor Kevin Stitt speaks during a meeting with other governors and President Trump at the White House on June 18, 2020. (Chris Kleponis/Polaris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“What's amazing to me is that there are some Democratic governors right now who are saying they won't support President Trump, but I don't think they've learned anything from the election, that Americans need safe communities. “We want to have strong borders,” he said.
'Sanctuary' city mayor vows to resist Trump's mass deportation push: 'Sparking widespread fear'
“When you think about people who are here illegally, it's against the law, they're promoting fentanyl, or they've been convicted of rape or robbery, they're not American citizens and they're here illegally. “I don't know who they are. They might argue with me by saying, 'We want to get those people out of the country and not allow them to come back,'” he said. .
Although Oklahoma is not a border state, Stitt said, like other states, it is still affected by the historic crisis on its southern border. He said the number of deaths from fentanyl has increased by 500% since taking office. He also mentioned a recently thwarted election day terrorist plot. The suspect lived in Oklahoma.
Stitt stressed that he is not opposed to immigration more broadly.
For more information on the border security crisis, click here
“If you're enrolled at the University of Oklahoma on an education visa, and there's an employer who needs that job, and you want to follow the American dream, we want to be able to convert that to a work visa. “We definitely want to work in that direction as well, if you want to be a part of paying taxes and being part of our society,” he said.
He said he believes there is optimism in the United States right now and enthusiasm about the potential to make communities across the country safer.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I think with Mr. Trump's victory, the American people have said loud and clear that they believe in safe communities. So I think so too, and I think it's the right thing to do, and I think the “I'm excited about some of the choices he's making in his Cabinet. “President Trump has put policies in place and will continue to do so, and this is a new day for America.”
