State Governors Push for Immigration Authority Shift Amid Economic Discussions

Gavel on immigration law book in library

State governors are pushing for more control over immigration to address local economic needs, but will President Trump heed their call?

Key Insights

Colorado’s Jared Polis and Oklahoma’s Kevin Stitt lead a campaign for states to issue work permits.
The governors argue that local governments can better address labor demands and boost economies.
Both governors stress the need for collaboration between state and federal authorities.
Critics warn of the potential negative impact on wages and housing costs.

Governors Take a Stand

Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt are urging President Trump to delegate certain immigration responsibilities to states. Their proposal includes allowing state governments to issue work permits to undocumented immigrants as a means to address local economic challenges and labor shortages. Both governors presented their case at a recent National Governors Association meeting, illustrating bipartisan support for the initiative.

Governor Polis highlights that allowing states to issue work permits based on rigorous background checks could significantly enhance economic growth. “Let us be able to grant those based on clean background checks … and that’ll help power our economic growth,” Polis asserted. Stitt, meanwhile, emphasizes the importance of matching employers with qualified workers in Oklahoma through more accessible state-level workforce visas.

Balancing State and Federal Roles

Polis thinks states, with their intimate knowledge of local economies, are better suited to determine immigration needs. Both he and Stitt recognize the necessity for enhanced cooperation between state and federal authorities in immigration-related matters. Despite Colorado’s sanctuary-style laws, Polis insists on collaboration, stating, “We want to make sure we’re at the table in that with regard to immigration.”

Stitt’s efforts also include Operation Guardian, a program aimed at improving cooperation with federal agencies to deport criminal illegal aliens. This highlights the potential for states to play a more pronounced role without entirely bypassing federal oversight.

Concerns and Criticisms

Not everyone agrees with shifting immigration responsibilities to the states. The move could lead to a race among states to attract low-wage workers, possibly driving down salaries and escalating housing costs for American families. There are also concerns over Stitt’s decision not to check immigration status of young children in schools, a stance he defended by saying, “We’re not going to ask for immigration status for 6, 7, 8-year-old kids in school.” This has drawn criticism from Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters, who sees it as undermining the America First agenda.

The proposal presented by Polis and Stitt reflects a growing recognition of the unique economic needs of different states. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how much influence state governors will have over federal immigration policy and if their request will lead to significant changes in how the U.S. addresses local and national economic challenges through immigration.