Many residents received letters stating that Madill was in danger of becoming a sanctuary city. A sanctuary city is a place that is defined as a city or town whose municipal laws protect undocumented immigrants from deportation or prosecution despite federal immigration law.
The truth about the letters is that it is highly unlikely that Madill will become a sanctuary city.
Governor Kevin Stitt signed a law in April 2024 that prohibits illegal aliens from residing in Oklahoma. HB 4165 criminalizes individuals being in Oklahoma without legal immigration status.
The suggested penalties for a first offense were jail times and fines, and subsequent offences could have more severe consequences like a felony. Convicted individuals are required to leave Oklahoma within 72 hours of their release from custody.
The bill has faced legal challenges like civil rights groups and the federal government have challenged the law. They argue that the bill is preempted by federal law and unconstitutional. Currently, there are injunctions against the bill temporarily blocking the enforcement of HB 4156.
Even though HB 4156 is still facing scrutiny, Oklahoma will most likely not have sanctuary cities. In 2021, Oklahoma became a Second Amendment sanctuary, also known as a gun sanctuary.
A gun sanctuary is a state, county or locality that adopted laws or resolutions opposing certain gun control measures, like universal background checks or bans on certain types of firearms or accessories.
SenateBill631waspassed and prevents state agencies or political subdivisions from decreeing legislation that could infringe on Second Amendment rights and declares any act ordering the buy-back, confiscation or surrender of firearms as unlawful.
Once the story of the letters circulating about Madill possibly becoming a sanctuary city, The Madill Record dug into the subject deeper. The letter turned out to be a scam with no validity.
The letter tries to scare residents that if they don’t respond in 10 days from receiving the letter to refute thecitybecomingasanctuary city, it will be passed as so. However, there is no phone number or return address. Also, it requested the residents to donate money to an organization called Secure America Now.
The same letter circulated through Hazelton, Pennsylvania. Hazelton Mayor Jeff Cusat warned residents about the scam in an interview with the Hazelton Standard Speaker.
The Center for Immigration Studies has a map that showswhereallofthesanctuary cities are located. There are no sanctuary cities listed in Oklahoma or Texas.