Oklahoma governor rejects proposal asking parents to provide immigration status when enrolling children

ISTANBUL

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt rejected a controversial proposal by the state Board of Education that required parents to report their immigration or citizenship status when enrolling their children in school, CNN reported on Monday.

The proposal, which requires parents to report their immigration or citizenship status when enrolling their children in school, came as President Donald Trump and Republican leaders pledged to crack down on undocumented immigrants and carry out a mass deportation plan, the media outlet said.

The Oklahoma State Board of Education approved the proposal last month, but it still needed approval from the legislature and governor to go into effect, according to state administrative rules.

On Feb. 11, in a statement, Stitt, who voiced support for Donald Trump’s presidential bid, criticized the initiative, saying: “Nothing is more important than ensuring Oklahoma kids have the best education possible.”

“After months of headlines followed by disappointing NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) scores this month, it’s clear that our education infrastructure has fallen prey to needless political drama. If we want to be the best state for business, we need to make sure our kids have a path to success. It’s time for some fresh eyes and a renewed focus on our top ten goals,” CNN quoted him as saying.

Stitt also announced the replacement of three members of the five-member Board of Education.

In response to the governor’s actions, Superintendent Walters had said: “Governor Stitt has joined the swampy political establishment that President Trump is fighting against.”

“The board members that stood with us, working with the Trump Administration to make our schools safer and better, have been fired for political purposes. Every Oklahoman should be clear this move undermines Oklahoma kids and parents and an America First agenda."

Stitt believes that the federal government, and not the people, need to continue to control our country. "This is disappointing but not surprising. We’ll keep fighting for school choice, parents, kids, and our teachers,” he added.

However, Stitt’s move was welcomed by the National Immigration Law Center.

“We should all heed Governor Stitt’s call that children feel safe at school and not be used as political pawns,” Kica Matos, the center’s president, said.

“The Governor’s sound rejection of a radical attempt to undermine the right to education is a result of the concerted advocacy of parents, educators, and advocates across Oklahoma who mobilized to oppose it.”