Oklahoma Governor warns of deportations for workers with old marijuana misdemeanors

On a morning news program, Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma recounted a situation in which a worker with a marijuana misdemeanor from 20 years prior—recorded as discharged—has been detained and is being deported despite possessing a lawful workforce permit. He emphasized that even when employers vouch for an employee, outdated charges can still trigger removal actions. Stitt urged that state governments, rather than the federal government, should manage the verification process to ensure only qualified contributors remain in the labor market.

He described the immigration system as broken and called for better cooperation between employers and state authorities. The governor suggested that clearer state-level oversight would help identify both law-abiding workers and those who pose a criminal risk.