NILC Statement on Oklahoma State Board of Education Proposal Requiring Parents to Prove Citizenship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
January 28, 2025

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]  
Adrian Escárate, 202-609-9976 
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458 

NILC Statement on Oklahoma State Board of Education Proposal Requiring Parents to Prove Citizenship

WASHINGTON — Nicholas Espíritu, deputy legal director at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the Oklahoma State Board of Education’s decision to require parents to prove their citizenship when enrolling their children in school. The proposal goes to the state legislature and governor next before it can take effect: 

“The extreme decision is not only a direct violation of the rights and freedoms of Oklahomans, but also a clear attempt to instill terror in communities across the state. All children living in the United States, regardless of their immigration status or that of their parents, have the right to attend K-12 public school. Requiring school districts to prove parents’ citizenship illegally chills access to this opportunity and interferes with schools’ ability to focus on their core mission: to educate children and give all students the ability to grow, thrive, and participate fully in our democracy. We call on the state legislature and the governor to unequivocally reject this blatant attempt to undermine access to education for Oklahomans.” 

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