In a bipartisan effort, Colorado's Democratic Governor Jared Polis and Oklahoma's Republican Governor Kevin Stitt have joined forces to advocate for greater state influence in immigration enforcement and work permit issuance. During a National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., both governors emphasized the importance of states having a voice in these crucial matters, particularly concerning President Trump's immigration policies.
Governor Polis highlighted the broad support among both Democratic and Republican governors for increased state involvement in immigration decisions. He argued that states possess valuable insights into their specific labor market needs and are well-equipped to conduct thorough vetting processes for work permit applications. "Let us grant these permits based on comprehensive background checks, which will, in turn, stimulate economic growth," Polis stated.
Governor Polis, whose state has grappled with challenges posed by the migrant gang Tren de Aragua, underscored the need for varied levels of collaboration between state and federal authorities. While Colorado has sanctuary-style laws that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, Polis maintained that the state maintains a robust working relationship with federal agencies.
Governor Stitt echoed Polis's call for greater state control over workforce visas, emphasizing the importance of aligning employers with qualified employees across various sectors. He drew a parallel to the NFL draft, suggesting that the U.S. should be able to select the "best and brightest" individuals to contribute to the nation's workforce. Stitt also promoted Oklahoma's Operation Guardian, an initiative aimed at facilitating collaboration between state and local law enforcement with the Trump administration and ICE to deport illegal immigrants with criminal records. He stressed the importance of prioritizing the removal of individuals who pose a threat to public safety and burden taxpayers.
However, Stitt drew a line at scrutinizing the immigration status of young children in schools. This stance sparked disagreement with Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, a fellow Republican, who argued that Stitt's position contradicted President Trump's agenda and the will of Oklahoma voters.
