More than 30 Oklahoma law enforcement agencies have signed federal agreements deputizing officers as ICE agents. A raid in Oklahoma City's Asian District in January sent shockwaves through the Vietnamese community. Some police chiefs wear masks during operations while activists track and photograph arrests they say target immigrants with legal status.

The post More Than 30 Oklahoma Agencies Sign Immigration Enforcement Agreements appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

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ICE and private prison companies are rapidly expanding Oklahoma's detention infrastructure as federal policy subjects most immigrants to mandatory detention without bond hearings. CoreCivic reopened the Diamondback facility in Watonga under a $100 million contract. Attorneys say ICE transfers detainees between facilities to frustrate legal challenges seeking their release.

The post Inside the ICE Detention System: How Oklahoma Facilities Use Legal Limbo to Pressure Deportations appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

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Oklahoma has become an ICE arrest hub after Gov. Kevin Stitt deputized state agencies and 28 local law enforcement agencies signed federal agreements. A Chinese man with a legal work permit and pending asylum case was arrested by Highway Patrol after calling 911 for help in a rollover accident.

The post Oklahoma Becomes ICE Arrest Hub as Federal Policy Drives Enforcement Explosion appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

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Payne County prosecutors are pursuing a sexual assault case against 18-year-old Canyn Porter differently than they handled Jesse Butler's case last year. Butler received counseling and community service after being certified as a youthful offender. Prosecutors are opposing Porter's request for youthful offender status despite similar charges involving a teenage victim.

The post Second Stillwater Teen Faces Rape Charges as Unequal Treatment Questions Mount appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

This article first appeared on Oklahoma Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.