Lawton, OK – Oklahoma’s state superintendent, Ryan Walters, has come under fire following a proposal from the state’s Board of Education that would require parents to provide proof of their child’s U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status when enrolling them in public schools. The move has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties groups, educators, and concerned parents, who argue that it could discourage immigrant families from sending their children to school for fear of being reported to immigration authorities.
In an interview with NewsNation on Wednesday, Walters expressed strong support for the proposal, stating that the state would work with President Donald Trump to enforce immigration policies “in any way that we can.” He added that Oklahoma schools would not serve as sanctuary schools, signaling the state’s intent to align with the federal government on immigration enforcement.
The proposal, which was unanimously approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education on Tuesday, does not aim to bar students without legal status from attending school. Instead, it requires school districts to collect and report the number of students whose citizenship status has not been verified. The data would then be shared with the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Walters justified the policy by stating that it would help prevent situations where families are separated if parents are deported without their children. “If the president and ICE don’t know where the families are, where the students are, you’re going to have families that are deported without their kids,” Walters said.
Despite these assurances, the proposal has sparked protests from parents, students, and advocacy groups. On Tuesday night, demonstrators gathered outside the state’s education building, voicing their concerns over the potential impact on immigrant families. Some parents have expressed intentions to withdraw their children from public schools or even relocate to other states, fearing the policy could lead to unnecessary scrutiny of their families’ legal status.
Civil rights organizations have condemned the proposal, arguing that it could create an atmosphere of fear and discourage students from attending school altogether. Many educators worry the policy could undermine the principle of equal access to education for all children, regardless of immigration status.
While Walters and the state board insist the rule is designed to ensure family unity and prevent deportation without children, the debate continues to grow over the potential consequences for Oklahoma’s immigrant communities and the broader implications for public education in the state. As the proposal moves forward, it remains to be seen how it will be implemented and whether further legal challenges will arise.
