From Progressive Pioneer to Nativist Crackdown: The Transformation of Immigrant Policy in Oklahoma

In the absence of comprehensive national immigration legislation, the debate over immigration has devolved to the states. Scholars have studied why states adopt punitive policies toward immigrants and why states differ in their treatment of immigrants. However, none has sought to analyze the transformation from an integration to a punitive policy regime. From 1996 to 2005, Oklahoma pursued an integration police regime designed to welcome immigrants and promote their social integration. In 2007, Oklahoma reversed its stance and has since pursued a punitive policy regime designed to make life difficult for unauthorized immigrants and to encourage them to leave. We contend that a longitudinal analysis of immigrant policy making within a single state provides a richer and more dynamic understanding of the interplay of state political institutions, societal interests, policy narratives, and the national political environment in making policy than analyzing the differences between states at a single point in time. Related Articles Sabia, Debra. 2010. “The Anti-Immigrant Fervor in Georgia: Return of the Nativist or Just Politics as Usual?” Politics & Policy 38 (1): 53-80. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2009.00228.x/abstract Balch, Alex. 2010. “Economic Migration and the Politics of Hospitality in Spain: Ideas and Policy Change.” Politics & Policy 38 (5): 1037-1065. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2009.00228.x/abstract Simon-Kumar, Rachel, and Catherine Kingfisher. 2011. “Beyond Transformation and Regulation: Productive Tensions and the Analytics of Inclusion.” Politics & Policy 39 (2): 271-294. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00291.x/abstract Related Media Films: by Adams, George. 2010. Panic Nation. Oklahoma City, OK. http://panicnationmovie.com Camerini, Michael, and Shari Robertson. 2010. “The Senators' Bargain.” How Democracy Works Now: HBO. http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-senators-bargain/index.html Huus, Kari. “Turmoil in Tulsa: The illegal immigration wreck.” MSNBC 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19466978/#.UGYjUU3A8rW Websites: by Oklahoma Watch-Immigration. 2012. The Oklahoman: Newsok.com. http://newsok.com/oklahoma-watch/immigration/ Tulsa World. 2012. “Faces of Immigration.” http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/continuingcoverage/default.aspx/Faces_of_Immigration/32 Ante la ausencia de una reforma inmigratoria comprehensiva a nivel nacional, el debate sobre la inmigracion ha tomado lugar en los estados. Academicos han estudiado el por que los estados adoptan politicas punitivas hacia los inmigrantes asi como por que los estados difieren en su tratamiento hacia los inmigrantes. Sin embargo, ninguno se ha dado a la tarea de analizar por que estados que inicialmente estan abiertos a la inmigracion posteriormente adoptan politicas punitivas que alientan a los inmigrantes a marcharse. Nosotros afirmamos que un estudio longitudinal de la creacion de politicas inmigratorias dentro de un solo estado provee un retrato mas rico y dinamico de la interaccion de las instituciones politicas estatales y las narrativas politicas que un analisis sobre las diferencias entre estados en un determinado punto en el tiempo. Para explorar este tema, nos enfocamos en Oklahoma. De 1996 a 2005, se ejercio una politica integradora disenada para recibir nuevos inmigrantes. En 2007, Oklahoma dio marcha atras y desde entonces ha ejercido una politica estricta disenada para hacer mas dificil para los inmigrantes no autorizados a vivir en Oklahoma y alentarlos a abandonar el estado.