ACLU of Oklahoma Statement on the Recent Legislation Targeting Our Immigrant Communities

OKLAHOMA CITY – In response to today’s advancement of SB 572, prohibiting cities from enacting or allowing sanctuary policies or protections, by the Senate General Government Committee, the ACLU of Oklahoma released the following statement: 
 
The following is attributable to Nicole McAfee, Director of Policy and Advocacy: 
 
“The ACLU of Oklahoma stands with our immigrant communities and opposes the efforts of politicians in the state senate to take away the decision-making power of local government officials to improve public safety by taking commonsense measures to build community trust. Regardless of immigration status, Oklahomans should feel safe to report a crime, provide information to law enforcement, and seek help. That keeps us all safer. But when police voluntarily play the role of federal immigration agents, including following the requests - not orders - of ICE detainers, many immigrants become too afraid to call and report crimes. This only encourages more crime. SB 572 is not only an insult to the immigrant communities of our state, but also a limitation on local government's ability to keep us all safe.”