Oklahoma’s Latino legislators lay out legislative focus
Oklahoma’s Latino legislators say they’re going to focus on separating fact from fiction and getting to work in this year’s new session
Oklahoma’s Latino legislators say they’re going to focus on separating fact from fiction and getting to work in this year’s new session
Oklahoma’s Latino legislators say they’re going to focus on separating fact from fiction and getting to work in this year’s new session
Oklahoma’s Latino legislators say they’re going to focus on separating fact from fiction and getting to work in this year’s new session.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
KOCO 5 spoke with legislators ahead of the session and asked what they are hearing from members of their community.
“This is only gonna make things worse. We’re already seeing people because of fear and anxiety not enrolling their kids into schools, which only adds to more problems,” said state Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval.
Alonso-Sandoval and other members of the legislative Latino Caucus said they’ll fight the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s new rule requiring parents to provide citizenship status to enroll students.
They worry that the rules will impact attendance in schools, something they say they’re already seeing at local businesses.
“Particular those in construction, hospitality, food service, and agriculture are seeing lower attendance and a significant drop in workers showing up due to concern over enforcement actions. This has real consequences for our local economy,” said state Sen. Michael Brooks.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
They said the rumors of enhanced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in our area just aren’t credible at this point.
“This isn’t real this is just someone who fancies themselves as a content creator trying to get likes and trying to get shares to raise their profile on social media,” Brooks said.
They’re focused on putting an end to this fear, not just by combating the misinformation, but by helping out undocumented people.
“We have organized highly successful legal clinics in Oklahoma City and Tulsa,” said state Rep. Annie Menz.
And many of those clinics hosted undocumented parents making sure there’s a place for their children if they are deported, complete with stand-in guardians.
Top Headlines
- Law enforcement investigation briefly shuts down part of northwest Oklahoma City road
- Several schools across Oklahoma move to virtual learning due to high number of illnesses
- Arizona dog owner reunited with his beloved pet 8 years after he went missing in Oklahoma
- Edmond man arrested, charged in connection with child pornography investigation
- How to watch Super Bowl 59