Judge keeps enforcement of 'impermissible occupation' law on hold

Steve Metzer

Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY — A federal judge in Oklahoma City has issued a preliminary injunction barring the enforcement of a controversial new state law that would allow for prosecutions of undocumented immigrants on charges of “impermissible occupation.”

Plaintiffs in a pending federal case, Padres Unidos de Tulsa vs. Gentner Drummond, contend that the law should be declared unconstitutional.

Western District of Oklahoma U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones had previously issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting enforcement of House Bill 4156 , which Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law last year. In his ruling Tuesday, Jones said an additional review of issues didn’t change the court's opinion that plaintiffs were correct in their con