In a latest legal battle over immigration policy, the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Oklahoma, seeking to block a state law that imposes criminal penalties on individuals residing in the state illegally. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Oklahoma City, challenges a law that makes it a state crime, punishable by up to two years in prison, to live in Oklahoma without legal immigration status.

Similar laws in Texas and Iowa are already facing challenges from the Justice Department. Oklahoma, along with other GOP-led states, has been pushing for stricter immigration enforcement as both Republicans and Democrats focus on the issue. This year, bills targeting migrants have been passed in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.

The Justice Department argues that the Oklahoma statute violates the U.S. Constitution and has asked the court to declare it invalid and prevent the state from enforcing it. U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division, stated that Oklahoma cannot disregard the Constitution and must adhere to the framework adopted by Congress for the regulation of immigration.

Governor Kevin Stitt defended the law, stating that it was necessary due to the Biden administration's failure to secure the nation's borders. He further argued that the federal government obstructs states' efforts to protect their citizens. However, the federal action was expected, as the Department of Justice had previously warned Oklahoma officials that it would sue if the state continued to enforce the new law.

In response to the lawsuit, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called the DOJ's argument "dubious at best" and stated that while the federal government has broad authority over immigration, it does not have exclusive power on the subject. Drummond emphasized that Oklahoma, as a sovereign state, has the right to address ongoing public crises within its borders through appropriate legislation.

The legality of similar laws has been a subject of contention. In March, Texas was allowed to enforce a law similar to Oklahoma's for a brief few hours before being put on hold by a federal appeals court. The court is currently deliberating on the constitutionality of the law.

The Oklahoma law has prompted large protests at the state Capitol, with immigrants and their families expressing concern about potential racial profiling by police. Immigrant rights advocate Sam Wargin Grimaldo, who attended a rally wearing a shirt that read, "Young, Latino and Proud," stated that the community feels attacked and that such legislation creates fear and hampers their daily lives.

The Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police and the Metro Law Enforcement Agency Leaders raised concerns about the law, stating that they were not involved in its drafting. They warned that it could discourage crime victims from reporting to law enforcement, potentially endangering public safety. They also expressed concerns that the law could rupture the connections and relationships they have built with immigrant communities.

As the legal battle continues, the implications of this lawsuit could have far-reaching effects on immigration policies, state sovereignty, and the protection of immigrant communities. The court's decision will determine the fate of the Oklahoma law and could set a precedent for similar legislation in other states.