Federal Judge Blocks Oklahoma Immigration Law

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Oklahoma's controversial immigration law, House Bill 4156, which sought to criminalize illegal immigration at the state level. U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones ruled that the law conflicted with federal immigration authority and issued a preliminary injunction following a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice. The law was set to take effect on July 1 and would have allowed state law enforcement to arrest and penalize undocumented immigrants. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond expressed disappointment and plans to appeal the decision, arguing the law is necessary due to federal inaction on immigration. Similar state-level immigration laws in Texas, Florida, and Iowa have also faced legal challenges and blocks in recent months.