Attorney General Drummond appeals preliminary injunction against enforcement of state anti-illegal immigration law

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 17, 2024) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond today appealed a preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge late last month to halt enforcement of Oklahoma’s tough new immigration reform law.

House Bill 4156 is designed to crack down on the state’s illegal marijuana farms by enabling state law enforcement to detain and incarcerate illegal immigrants, many of whom wind up working in these clandestine operations.

Drummond has appealed the judge’s ruling to the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

“The Biden Administration’s complete and utter failure to address the border crisis has given Oklahoma no option but to take steps necessary to ensure public safety,” he said. “House Bill 4156 is a powerful tool to counter criminal activity largely being fueled by illegal immigrants coming to our state.”

In the wake of Oklahoma’s 2018 legalization of medical marijuana, Chinese crime syndicates and Mexican drug cartels have exploited the law to pursue black-market marijuana, human trafficking, opioid distribution and other illegal activities.