A federal judge temporarily stops Oklahoma from enforcing its new anti-immigration law

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge on Friday granted a request for Oklahoma to temporarily halt enforcement of a new anti-immigration law that would make it a crime to live in the state without legal immigration status.

U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones granted the preliminary injunction requested by the U.S. Department of Justice to go into effect while their lawsuit challenging it continues. The law would come into force on Monday.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Oklahoma City, challenges the measure, which makes it a state crime — punishable by up to two years in prison — to live in Oklahoma without legal immigration status. Similar laws passed in Texas and Iowa also face challenges from the Justice Department.

The Department of Justice says the Oklahoma statute violates the U.S. Constitution and is asking the court to declare it invalid and bar the state from enforcing it.

The judge’s Friday order said Oklahoma “may have understandable frustration with the problems caused by illegal immigration” but “the state may not pursue policies that undermine federal law.”

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called the ruling disappointing and said the law was necessary because the Biden administration has failed to secure the country’s borders.

“We intend to appeal today’s decision and defend one of the most powerful tools we have,” Drummond said.

Noor Zafar, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrant Rights Project, called the law harmful and in a statement said it threatens to tear apart families and communities in Oklahoma.

“The court was right to block it,” Zafar said. “This ruling is a victory.”