US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, along with other federal law enforcement agencies, attend a pre-enforcement meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on Jan. 26, 2025.

Under a proposal designed to support President Trump’s immigration policies, Oklahoma parents enrolling children in public schools would need to verify their child’s citizenship or legal residency.

This proposal, slated for a Tuesday vote by Oklahoma’s education board, is in its early stages and requires legislative and gubernatorial approval. State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ plan wouldn’t bar undocumented students but would mandate that districts track their enrollment.

A 1982 Supreme Court decision affirmed the right of undocumented children to attend public schools, though some conservative lawmakers question this right.

Walters has indicated support for Trump’s immigration enforcement, including allowing ICE agents into Oklahoma schools.

“Our schools are overwhelmed by the influx of undocumented immigrants due to the Biden/Harris administration’s open border policies,” Walters stated. “We will prioritize Oklahoma students, reflecting the electorate’s choice of President Trump.”

Walters has focused his first term on combating what he calls “woke” ideology in schools, advocating for Bible instruction and attempting to ban books.

This plan has drawn sharp criticism from educators and civil liberties organizations, causing fear among Oklahoma’s immigrant communities, according to Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval.

“The community is understandably apprehensive,” Alonso-Sandoval said. “Parents are simply trying to provide the best for their children, and they are now questioning whether to keep their children enrolled.”

Oklahoma City Public Schools, a large district with 57% Hispanic students, Superintendent Jamie Polk stated in a recent letter that federal law guarantees every child’s right to education regardless of immigration status.

“OKCPS does not, and will not, collect immigration status data on our students or families,” she declared.

For decades, based on the 1982 Supreme Court decision *Plyler v. Doe*, children of undocumented families have had the right to attend public schools. The court ruled 5-4 that denying education based on immigration status is unconstitutional.

Alabama attempted a similar requirement in 2011 as part of a broader immigration law, but after a federal appeals court temporarily blocked it, the state ultimately abandoned the provision.

Immigration experts emphasize the seriousness of attempts to undermine *Plyler*, citing recent Supreme Court decisions overturning precedents on abortion rights and affirmative action.