(TheConservativeTimes.org) – The United States Justice Department sued Oklahoma over an immigration law that could impose criminal penalties for those who are living in the state illegally.
The lawsuit challenges the Oklahoma law that could make living in the state illegally punishable for up to two years in prison. Similar laws have been passed in Texas and Iowa but they have also been having issues with the justice department. These states have been pushing for harsher immigration laws, and this has not been the first law or bill that has been proposed to target immigration.
The Justice Department claims that the Oklahoma law violates the U.S. Constitution and they are asking the state to say it’s invalid. Brian M Boynton, head of the justice department’s civil division and the US principal deputy assistant attorney general, said, “Oklahoma cannot disregard the US Constitution and settled Supreme Court precedent.”
“We have brought this action to ensure that Oklahoma adheres to the Constitution and the framework adopted by Congress for regulation of immigration,” he continued.
Kevin Stitt, the Oklahoma governor, said that the law was necessary because President Joe Biden is not doing his part in securing the nation’s border. He continued, “Not only that, but they stand in the way of states trying to protect their citizens.”
The Oklahoma Attorney General stated that the federal government has broad authority on immigration but that they did not have “exclusive power” on the subject.
Many immigrants in these states have spoken out against the law and have said that they feel unsafe to even leave their homes. The law has also prompted many different protests across the state that included immigrants and their families who were voicing concerns about the new laws. Sam Wargin Grimaldo, who attended a protest recently, spoke out saying, “People are afraid to step out of their houses if legislation like this is proposed and then passed.”
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