TULSA, Okla. — Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announced the state is conducting Operation Guardian, "the government is preparing for the deportation of illegal aliens, starting with those who are currently in jails."
After the announcement, Stitt detailed the plan on his Facebook page.
People in the comments shared their reactions— some look forward to the initiative, while others believe the state should prioritize other issues.
Blanca Zavala said she always manages to make her way to thePancho Anaya Bakery in midtown.
While she said it’s partly because of her bread cravings, she also meets community members here to give them needed information, from voting to outreach.
“The only thing we can do is prepare our community when the time comes.”
Zavala said she thinks the plan is not only being done to scare citizens about the topic of immigration but immigrants too.
“We don’t want them to be fearful and to stop actually calling the policemen or the sheriff for help if they get into a situation that actually requires it," she said. "That’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
She isn't alone in this view.
Amairani Perez thinks the initiative will cause divisiveness-- both politically and socially.
“This definitely feels like fear-mongering," she said. “It’s just the focus on immigrant communities right now when all of that funding when all of that strategy could go into other things like actually lowering incarceration rates or investing in rehabilitation.”
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She said she heard rumors of deportation not happening at all under the Biden-Harris administration.
“We know that individuals are already being deported. There are a lot of factors that go into whether an individual stays, the proceedings, trials, all of that," she said.
Stitt appointed State Commissioner of Public Safety, Tim Tipton to lead Operation Guardian.
He said he is sure the whole country will be making it a priority to crack down on illegal immigration next year.
"We have discussions about what we in Oklahoma can do to work with the Trump Administration," he said. “To increase both our state public safety and our national security.”
2 News Oklahoma's Isabel Flores took those community concerns to him, “I actually spoke with some individuals yesterday, and while some are in favor of this new plan, some are concerned that the efforts and funding going into this plan could be going elsewhere including things like rehabilitation, education and even ways to lower incarceration rates. What is your response to this?”
"The problem in this matter is, is it Oklahoma’s obligation to do that for people who are illegally in the country. I believe those funds should be looked at for citizens," he said.
The governor's office said Tipton will have a plan ready by January 15.
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