Key Takeaways
• Attorney General Drummond urges Governor Stitt to send Oklahoma National Guard to support federal immigration enforcement.
• House Bill 4156 criminalizes presence without legal status; DOJ dropped its lawsuit, enabling state-level arrests.
• Operation Guardian expands state law enforcement cooperation with ICE, increasing immigrants’ risk of detention in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has requested Governor Kevin Stitt to send Oklahoma National Guard troops to help federal authorities with immigration enforcement. This call is made as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking 20,000 National Guard troops across the country for support in immigration cases. Drummond says Oklahoma should be part of this national effort, and his office is ready to deal with any legal issues that might come up because of it.
Drummond made his statement on May 15, 2025. He asked Governor Stitt to “put aside his personal animosity toward the President and act quickly to send our troops to assist with deportation efforts.” Drummond also made it very clear that his office will provide all the support needed if there are legal questions about sending Oklahoma National Guard troops to help with immigration rules.
This request is the latest step in a much bigger story about immigration laws and politics in Oklahoma. Drummond and Stitt have disagreed about how to handle immigration, and their disagreements keep coming up in public.
Recent Immigration Enforcement in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has seen several changes in its approach to immigration enforcement over the last few years. In February 2025, Governor Kevin Stitt signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Homeland Security. This agreement made it easier for state law enforcement officers—including state troopers, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics—to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The goal was to arrest and remove people who are living in the United States without legal permission. This team effort is called “Operation Guardian.”
Because of “Operation Guardian,” local authorities can now play a bigger role when it comes to detaining and removing people accused of illegal entry or overstaying their visas. Before the agreement, most immigration enforcement was carried out only by federal agencies like ICE. Now, state agencies are included in the process, making Oklahoma’s enforcement efforts stronger.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests this new level of state involvement makes Oklahoma one of the stricter states when it comes to immigration. This situation means immigrants living in Oklahoma—especially those without legal status—face more risks of being stopped or detained.
House Bill 4156 and “Impermissible Occupation”
Another recent development is the creation of a new state crime called “impermissible occupation.” This was set up by House Bill 4156. The law makes it a crime to be in Oklahoma without legal immigration status. In March 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice dropped its federal lawsuit against Oklahoma over this law, so House Bill 4156 is now fully in effect. As a result, state authorities can arrest individuals who do not have legal documentation, even without federal help.
Supporters of House Bill 4156 say it gives the state more power to manage its own security and to deal with illegal immigration locally. Critics, on the other hand, worry this law could lead to discrimination or mistakes where people who are legal residents are wrongly detained.
The Ongoing Role of the National Guard
This is not the first time Governor Kevin Stitt has used the National Guard for immigration-related tasks. In the past, he sent Oklahoma National Guard troops to Texas to help with “Operation Lone Star.” That operation was mainly designed to help Texas border security and address flows of migrants at the border with Mexico 🇲🇽.
Now, Oklahoma faces a choice about whether to send its National Guard members for direct immigration enforcement, not just for border support. The difference is important. Border security usually means helping federal authorities at the international border. In contrast, immigration enforcement inside the state focuses on detaining and removing people living in Oklahoma without legal status.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond wants to see troops used directly within Oklahoma to work closely with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. He has promised to support these efforts and defend them against any lawsuits.
Political Tensions: Drummond vs. Stitt
All of this is happening in a climate of heated political disagreements between Gentner Drummond and Kevin Stitt. Drummond has not hesitated to criticize Governor Stitt’s previous actions, especially when it comes to immigration.
One of the biggest clashes came when Drummond openly criticized Governor Stitt for working with the administration to resettle Afghan refugees in Oklahoma. He said Stitt had “partnered with the Biden Administration to resettle thousands of Afghan ‘refugees’ in Oklahoma.” Drummond argues that this move went against what he sees as strong border protection policies.
Drummond’s criticism points to bigger concerns about who should decide immigration rules in Oklahoma. Stitt and Drummond both claim to want strong border control, but they disagree on how best to do it.
Drummond’s Political Ambitions
There is also an election on the horizon. Gentner Drummond is reportedly planning to run for governor in 2026. As the race approaches, Drummond has become more vocal. He’s characterized himself as a strong supporter of President Trump’s approach to immigration, saying, “President Trump has been taking bold and decisive action to secure our borders and deport illegal immigrants.”
By making immigration central to his public statements, Drummond is showing voters where he stands. He is also putting pressure on Governor Stitt to go along with his vision for stronger enforcement.
“Operation Guardian” and Federal-State Partnerships
A big part of the current debate is how much state and federal agencies should work together on immigration. Since February 2025 and the “Operation Guardian” agreement, local Oklahoma agencies can participate in making arrests for immigration-related cases.
This partnership means if federal authorities ask for help, the state can now provide both police and National Guard resources. It is important to note that federal law still gives the main power to control immigration and deportation. However, through agreements like the one Oklahoma signed, state officials can now play a bigger role.
Supporters, including Drummond and his allies, argue this is necessary because they say federal resources are not enough. They believe local help will lead to more people without legal status being detained and removed. Opponents, though, caution that state-level involvement can lead to problems of fairness and possibly errors if local officers do not understand complex immigration rules.
Legal Issues and Drummond’s Promise
Any time a state gets involved in immigration enforcement, there are questions about whether their actions might be challenged in court. That’s why Attorney General Gentner Drummond promises his office will “commit all necessary resources to fight any legal challenges to the deployment of Oklahoma National Guard troops” for this work.
His statement is aimed at reassuring both supporters and law enforcement agencies that Oklahoma will not back down from any lawsuits. Drummond expects that groups supporting immigrant rights may go to court to try to stop state-level deportation efforts.
Drummond’s office has already worked on legal issues related to immigration. Earlier this year, he celebrated after the Department of Justice dropped its lawsuit against Oklahoma over House Bill 4156. According to Drummond, this outcome means Oklahoma can move forward with strong new enforcement efforts.
Broader Changes and National Attention
Oklahoma’s recent moves have drawn attention from both local and national audiences. As the U.S. Department of Homeland Security searches for National Guard support, other states may look at Oklahoma’s decisions as a guide.
State-led immigration enforcement is not common across the United States 🇺🇸, but Oklahoma’s actions are part of a recent trend among some states. Many states in the South and Midwest have started to add new rules and penalties for living in the country without paperwork.
Statements and actions by Gentner Drummond, Kevin Stitt, and others will help shape how these efforts grow. If Oklahoma chooses to send National Guard troops as requested, other states may soon follow.
Immediate and Long-Term Impacts
For people living in Oklahoma who are immigrants, these actions could change daily life. The risk of being stopped, questioned, or arrested will likely go up for anyone without legal documentation. Parents, children, and workers in immigrant families may all feel less safe.
Employers who hire immigrants could see an increase in checks or visits by state and federal authorities. State law enforcement officers, meanwhile, will have new responsibilities and may require extra training. Oklahoma National Guard members may find themselves having to learn new skills if asked to help with deportation or with federal immigration rules.
In the long run, if courts uphold Oklahoma’s enforcement strategies, other states may create similar laws. This could lead to greater use of state police and National Guard troops in immigration enforcement all over the country.
Criticisms and Controversy
While many political leaders in Oklahoma support tougher rules, these measures are not without controversy. Critics say state participation in immigration enforcement might encourage discrimination or lead to wrongful arrests. They also warn that local police and National Guard members, who are not trained experts in immigration law, may make mistakes.
Civil rights groups and immigrant advocates generally oppose state-run deportation efforts. They argue that immigration is primarily a federal matter for a reason. Their fear is that, by giving local officials too much authority, people’s rights might suffer.
On the political front, the tussle between Gentner Drummond and Kevin Stitt shows no signs of stopping. Drummond has accused Stitt of not doing enough to support strict enforcement. Stitt, meanwhile, has argued that federal actions sometimes leave states with few resources to manage the effects of immigration.
How to Learn More or Get Help
If you want to read the original statement from Attorney General Gentner Drummond about his request, or review the legal details of House Bill 4156, you can visit the official Oklahoma Attorney General’s newsroom. You can also find more information about state-national immigration partnerships at the Department of Homeland Security’s official website.
The outcome of this dispute between Gentner Drummond and Kevin Stitt could change how Oklahoma, and possibly other states, deal with important questions about immigration and the role of the National Guard. As officials and lawmakers debate, immigrants and their families are watching closely, knowing the results could affect their own lives and futures in the state.
Summary
Attorney General Gentner Drummond has called on Governor Kevin Stitt to send Oklahoma National Guard troops to help federal officials with immigration enforcement. This comes at a time when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is asking for support from several states. Drummond’s position has increased tensions with Stitt, who has previously made agreements with both the Trump and Biden Administrations on immigration.
Recent laws like House Bill 4156 have made Oklahoma one of the strictest states when it comes to immigration. The use of the National Guard in these efforts is a new step, and whether or not Oklahoma acts on Drummond’s request could have lasting impacts for immigrants, state agencies, and the politics of the region.
For now, the question remains open: Will Governor Kevin Stitt respond by sending the National Guard as Drummond, a likely 2026 gubernatorial candidate, has urged? The answer could shape immigration enforcement in Oklahoma and beyond for years to come.
Learn Today
Operation Guardian → A collaborative initiative enabling Oklahoma’s state agencies to partner with ICE for arresting and removing undocumented immigrants.
National Guard → A state-controlled military reserve force that may assist in federal immigration enforcement when authorized by the governor.
House Bill 4156 → Oklahoma state law creating the crime of ‘impermissible occupation,’ allowing local arrests of undocumented individuals.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → A federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and overseeing deportations in the United States.
Memorandum of Agreement → A formal document outlining cooperation between Oklahoma and the Department of Homeland Security for joint immigration enforcement.
This Article in a Nutshell
Oklahoma’s immigration landscape is shifting rapidly. Attorney General Drummond calls on Governor Stitt to deploy the National Guard, amplifying Operation Guardian’s reach. With controversial laws like House Bill 4156, Oklahoma emerges as one of the strictest states, deepening political divides and sending a warning signal to immigrants and public officials alike.
— By VisaVerge.com
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