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With over 650 letters in hand from Oklahomans expressing concern about recent immigration enforcement, VOICE, ACTION, and the National Association of Evangelicals met with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to discuss the impact and future of immigration policy. 

The leaders recognized the governor for his opposition to proposed State Department of Education rules that would have required the determination and collection of the immigration status of Oklahoma students. 

The governor responded with curiosity to stories told by Lutheran, Catholic, and UCC Clergy. They shared how law-abiding members of their congregations are being deported, and the impact of immigration enforcement on foreign-born priests in the Catholic Archdiocese.

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In the face of impending evictions in Oklahoma, ACTION and VOICE-OKC leaders organized city councils from OK City, Tulsa, and Norman to urge the governor to expand the eviction moratorium in July.  Governor Stitt responded by allocating $10 Million in state funds for a rental assistance grant program ($5 Million for Tulsa and $5 Million for Oklahoma City).

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The council passed a resolution calling for Gov. Kevin Stitt to temporarily block residential evictions unless a landlord is responding to a tenant’s criminal behavior or dangerous activities.

“We’re really just asking the governor to pay attention to Oklahomans who are really struggling right now” as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown, said City Councilor Lori Decter Wright, one of the sponsors of the resolution.