Drummond fights preliminary injunction of state’s immigration law
- Office of the Attorney General
- May 28
- 2 min read
GENTNER DRUMMOND
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OKLAHOMA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2025
Drummond fights preliminary injunction of state’s immigration law
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 28, 2025) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond has filed a comprehensive response opposing a preliminary injunction that blocks enforcement of Oklahoma's House Bill 4156, the state's immigration enforcement law. The filing comes as advocacy groups led by Padres Unidos De Tulsa seek to permanently halt the law while their legal challenge proceeds.
The temporary restraining order came last week when a judge ruled that plaintiffs can proceed with a legal challenge despite two of the plaintiffs being anonymous because to reveal their identities would "expos(e) them to federal authorities" for federal lawbreaking, according to the court.
In the response filed late yesterday in federal court, Drummond argues that federal lawbreakers cannot claim legal standing to challenge a state law that mirrors federal immigration statutes. The state contends that granting relief to the plaintiffs would "plainly subvert federal criminal law in the name of upholding it."
"Oklahoma will not stand by while activist groups use our federal courts to shield lawbreakers from consequences," said Drummond. "This lawsuit asks the court to protect people who admit they are violating federal law from facing any accountability under either federal or state authority. That turns justice on its head and makes a mockery of the rule of law."
HB 4156 penalizes individuals who are present in Oklahoma in violation of federal immigration law. The measure was designed to address illegal activities including unauthorized marijuana cultivation and fentanyl distribution that have exploded in the state due to inadequate border security.
A temporary restraining order currently blocks enforcement of HB 4156 and expires June 3, when the court will consider whether to impose a preliminary injunction. A previous preliminary injunction was dismissed in March after the U.S. Department of Justice withdrew its legal challenge under the new Trump Administration.
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