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Governor: state evaluating deportation of incarcerated noncitizens but will not release dangerous offenders
Summary
The governor said state officials are reviewing roughly 536 incarcerated people identified as in the U.S. without authorization to determine deportation options; he said officials will balance victims’ justice and public‑safety concerns and will not commute sentences solely to effect deportation of dangerous offenders.
When asked whether the state would commute sentences to enable deportation of incarcerated noncitizens, the governor said “Of course not,” and that the administration is reviewing cases with officials including Tim Tipton and Steve Harp.
The governor said about 536 people in state prisons are identified as present in the U.S. without authorization. He said staff are evaluating factors such as country of origin, whether individuals have served their sentence, and the risk of recommitting crimes, and that the state has historically turned eligible individuals over to ICE at release, with mixed outcomes.
Context The governor said other states are consulting with Oklahoma officials about the approach. He said the administration will not “cross the board” and release people who have not served justice for the sake of deportation, and that victims’ concerns are being considered.
Unresolved details The governor did not provide a list of inmates, the specific legal mechanisms under review, or a timetable for case reviews. He did not specify whether the state will seek broader policy changes or rely on case‑by‑case resolutions.
