Health Care, Law & Principles

Stitt acts after Oklahoma Senate stalls immigration-verification bills

May 7, 2026

Ray Carter

Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed an executive order directing state agencies to ramp up immigration-status verification for welfare to ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive taxpayer-funded benefits in Oklahoma.

“Welfare should go to eligible Oklahomans, not to people who are in this country illegally,” Stitt said. “This order makes clear that our agencies must verify eligibility to protect the public’s hard-earned tax dollars.”

Stitt’s executive order directs the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to utilize the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to verify the legal status of applicants for programs including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicaid.

The executive order notes that President Trump “has directed the federal government by executive order to use all available lawful resources and authorities to fight fraud, close loopholes, enforce eligibility rules, and protect federal benefits for eligible Americans, while ensuring that States administering federal benefits programs do the same.”

The order also notes that “the protection of taxpayer resources requires every state agency administering federal benefits to verify the lawful immigration status of applicants before granting benefits, to deny benefits to persons who are not legally eligible, and to refer credible information concerning unlawful presence or immigration-related fraud for reception of benefits to the appropriate authorities for investigation and enforcement.”

The order duplicates the provisions of House Bills 4422 and 4423, both by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert. While both bills have passed out of the Oklahoma House of Representatives this year, they have stalled in the Oklahoma Senate.

Stitt praised Hilbert’s effort to keep illegal immigrants from accessing public benefits and to strengthen verification standards across Oklahoma agencies.

“The surest way to protect Oklahoma taxpayers is to pass legislation and get it signed into law,” Stitt said.

Hilbert applauded Stitt’s effort to prevent fraud.

“I am thankful that Governor Stitt takes the issue of illegal immigration seriously and recognizes the importance of enforcing the rule of law at every level of government,” said Hilbert, R-Bristow. “Oklahoma taxpayers should never be forced to subsidize benefits for individuals who are in our country illegally. These services are intended for legal tax-paying citizens, and we are going to make sure that is who is receiving these benefits in Oklahoma. Oklahoma must send a clear message: We stand with legal immigrants, American workers, and the men and women of ICE and Border Patrol who enforce our laws. The House stands with President Trump and with Governor Stitt in protecting American citizens and our tax dollars.”

Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt of Oklahoma City opposed the executive order, arguing that illegal immigrants are already barred from receiving welfare benefits. Yet Kirt simultaneously claimed Stitt’s order prohibiting benefits to illegal immigrants will now result in the denial of benefits to individuals.

“This order is putting politics over people,” Kirt said. “Programs like SoonerCare already require applicants to provide proof of citizenship or immigration status. This executive order will keep qualified kids from getting the care they need.”