Oklahoma Board of Education Votes to Approve Proposal Requiring Parents to Prove Citizenship When Enrolling Students

The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted 6-0 on Tuesday to approve a proposal requiring parents to report their immigration or citizenship status when enrolling their children in public schools. The measure, which still needs approval from the legislature and governor, has drawn strong criticism from education and immigration advocates.

Superintendent Ryan Walters defended the rule as a way to collect student data, but critics warn it could create fear among immigrant families and discourage school enrollment. The National Immigration Law Center called it an illegal barrier to education, stating, “All children have a constitutional right to equal access to education regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.”

The proposal comes amid a broader Republican-led push on immigration enforcement and education policy. President Donald Trump recently expanded ICE’s authority to arrest individuals in schools, and Walters has made immigration a central issue, including filing a $474 million lawsuit against federal officials over border policies.

This move follows other controversial education measures in Oklahoma, including a mandate to incorporate the Bible and Ten Commandments in school curriculums. The U.S. Supreme Court is also set to rule on whether states can deny religious charter schools public funding in a case originating from Oklahoma.