The law would threaten some noncitizens with arrest and expel them from Oklahoma, despite a federal right to remain in the United States
OKLAHOMA CITY – This week, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Oklahoma’s HB 4156.
This law would create a state system to regulate immigration, as well as undermine the exclusively federal system Congress enacted. Under the law, large groups of immigrants would be barred from entering the state – or could be ordered to leave – even if they are legally pursuing asylum or other lawful immigration statuses.
The court’s order this week reaffirms its ruling last year that HB 4156 is likely unconstitutional, and prevents Oklahoma officials from enforcing the law until the resolution of this case. The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Oklahoma, and law firm Rivas & Associates previously filed a lawsuit in May of 2024 on behalf of the Oklahoma-based organization Padres Unidos de Tulsa and several individual plaintiffs who live in the state. With the onset of the Trump administration, the United States government dismissed the challenge last year.
In May, immigrant and civil rights groups – including Padres Unidos de Tulsa and the League of United Latin American Citizens Oklahoma City (“LULAC-OKC”) – filed an amended complaint with additional plaintiffs, seeking to block the law from implementation.
“Once again, the court has made it clear that the State of Oklahoma may not enforce HB 4156 while our litigation proceeds,” said Megan Lambert, legal director with the ACLU of Oklahoma. “People who are immigrants join the long American tradition of coming here in search of a better life and the freedom and opportunity we offer. Anti-immigrant policies do not represent our state, and we are grateful for the relief this provides while we continue to fight for the rights and safety of Oklahoma’s immigrant communities.”
“Every single day that HB 4156 is in effect, it puts immigrants in Oklahoma at tremendous risk,” said Noor Zafar, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. “We are grateful that the court has reaffirmed that the law is likely unconstitutional and temporarily blocked its implementation. We will continue to fight to permanently stop this law from tearing apart communities in Oklahoma.”
“We are relieved to hear the court once again reinforce how the state of Oklahoma cannot be in the business of deporting immigrants,” said Lorena Rivas, an attorney with the Tulsa-based law firm Rivas & Associates. “It is reassuring to our clients and community that Oklahoma will not be a breeding ground for family separation and inhumane mistreatment at the hands of our state officials who have so many more pressing matters to address. By not allowing this law to take effect, the court has upheld the Oklahoma Standard of caring and helping our neighbors and communities regardless of national origin and race.”
