Oklahoma gains ground on illegal immigration law as Trump administration, DOJ drops opposition lawSuit

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s tough stance on illegal immigration took a major step forward on March 14, 2025, after the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed its opposition to House Bill 4156, a state law aimed at cracking down on illegal immigrants tied to criminal enterprises.

The move ends a federal injunction that had stalled enforcement since June 2024, paving the way for state authorities to target illicit operations like marijuana grows linked to drug cartels.

The Biden Administration’s DOJ had successfully blocked HB 4156 last summer with a preliminary injunction, arguing against the state’s authority. But the Trump DOJ’s reversal today drew praise from Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who championed the law.

“As we had hoped and anticipated, President Trump and the DOJ have taken action that will enable Oklahoma law enforcement to crack down on the illegal marijuana operations that have infested our state,” Drummond said. “This marks the start of a new day for public safety.”

HB 4156, crafted with legislative leaders in 2024, empowers state police to detain and jail illegal immigrants, many of whom Drummond says are exploited by Mexican drug cartels and Chinese crime syndicates running hidden marijuana farms.

These operations, he noted, often branch into sex trafficking and fentanyl distribution, fueled by what he called the Biden White House’s “gross negligence” on border security.

“For far too long, Oklahoma law enforcement was stymied because the federal government declined to deport illegal immigrants found working on these grows,” Drummond added. “The nation’s porous southern border has been a serious threat to Oklahomans. The sooner we can enforce HB 4156, the better.”

The DOJ’s dismissal signals a shift in federal policy, aligning with Oklahoma’s push to reclaim control over what Drummond described as a mounting public safety crisis.

With the legal hurdle cleared, the state stands poised to activate its controversial but “commonsense” law, as Drummond put it, ending months of frustration over stalled enforcement.