Oklahoma House Unanimously Rejects Student Immigration Status Collection Rule

Oklahoma lawmakers have decisively rejected proposed rules by State Superintendent Ryan Walters that would require public schools to collect students' immigration status and mandate teachers to pass the U.S. Naturalization Test for certification renewal. Senate Joint Resolution 22, which opposes these measures, passed unanimously in the House and awaits Governor Kevin Stitt's approval, who has expressed strong opposition to collecting immigration information from young children, citing privacy and public safety concerns. Multiple attempts by legislators, including Rep. Molly Jenkins and Sen. Shane Jett, to reinstate the immigration status collection rule were defeated in both committee and floor votes. Opponents argued the rule lacked statutory authority, was unenforceable, and risked deterring immigrant families from enrolling their children in school, while proponents sought aggregate data to better allocate funding and resources. The resolution also rejects the proposed requirement for teachers to pass the naturalization test, emphasizing that existing laws and federal rulings, such as the 1982 Supreme Court decision guaranteeing education access regardless of immigration status, already guide school policies. Overall, the legislature's actions reflect bipartisan consensus to block these controversial education rules amid concerns about fairness, legality, and the welfare of immigrant students.