Oklahoma Official Pushes States to Back Trump’s Ban on Funding Illegal Immigration

As Democratic states dig in their heels against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Oklahoma Education Superintendent Ryan Walters is urging states to rally behind the former president’s ban on funding illegal immigration. Walters, a Republican, is calling for proactive measures to implement Trump’s executive orders at the state level.

According to Walters, state officials, including those in education, have a duty to enforce President Donald Trump’s agenda. "You've got Democrat governors and officials saying they'll thwart this however they can," he said. "Where are the states moving at lightning speed to enact these policies?"

Last week, Walters filed an inquiry with Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, seeking clarification on how the state’s public education system could enforce Trump’s executive order. The order, titled "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders," mandates federal agencies to ensure that taxpayer resources aren’t funneled to "unqualified aliens." The goal, according to the order, is to prevent taxpayer dollars from incentivizing illegal immigration.

However, AG Drummond dismissed Walters’ request as "manufactured political drama" and noted the order primarily affects federal agencies—not state ones. He also took the opportunity to criticize Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, accusing him of "many failures" on immigration issues. Stitt brushed off the criticism, calling it "noise from people campaigning for their next political promotion." He affirmed his commitment to protecting Oklahomans and their communities.

Walters, clearly unimpressed, responded by saying he was "disappointed but not surprised" by Drummond’s stance. He argued that the AG has a responsibility to offer opinions on all laws, not just those he deems important. Walters emphasized that even though the executive order targets federal funds, state education officials must ensure compliance because federal funding often flows through state systems.

Walters also highlighted what he described as chaos in Oklahoma schools during the Biden administration, claiming the influx of illegal immigrant students cost the state at least $474 million. He believes this diverted resources away from U.S. citizen students.

Since Trump’s return to the White House, Walters has been a vocal advocate for aligning state policies with the administration’s immigration crackdown. In January, he announced plans for Oklahoma public schools to track students’ immigration status and share the data with federal authorities—a policy that has faced resistance from Governor Stitt and is under legislative review.

"We are applying President Trump’s executive orders in every way possible," Walters said. He stressed the importance of understanding how illegal immigration affects school funding formulas and grant distributions to ensure compliance with federal directives.

Ultimately, Walters called for nationwide action, urging education systems across the country to follow Oklahoma’s example. "Every state has a decision to make," he stated. "Are you going to align with President Trump’s immigration agenda, or will you support President Biden’s hands-off approach?" He framed the recent election results as a clear mandate for states to back Trump’s policies.