Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford on Sunday defended a controversial deal on illegal immigration that he has cut with Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other left-wing Democrats.
During multiple media appearances, Lankford claimed conservative critics were overreacting to “internet rumors” about what is in the bill. He argued that he welcomes former President Donald Trump and other critics actually reading the specifics.
Yet Lankford’s optimism was too little too late for the Republican Party in Oklahoma.
Read: Florida Sen. Scott: Trump “Irrelevant” To Discussion Of Controversial Immigration Plan
As reported by The Hill, GOP leaders in Lankford’s home state slammed their own senator on Saturday for working with liberals to craft a measure that critics say does nothing to reverse President Joe Biden’s open-border policies.
The Oklahoma GOP’s State Committee, according to an X post by Republican state Sen. Dusty Deevers, passed a resolution that “strongly condemns” Lankford and calls on him to “cease and desist jeopardizing the security and liberty of the people of Oklahoma and of these United States.”
The particulars of the resolution notes that Oklahoma Republicans support “limited” legal immigration and “embrace” those legal immigrants who choose “to assimilate to our American culture, language and values.”
The committee also noted that Oklahoma Republicans oppose a “path to citizenship” for illegals.
Lankford, however, has been “playing fast and loose” with Democrats on border security policy and is violating his oath of office by supporting a plan that permits the “invasion” to continue.
Read: Oklahoma GOP Senator Defends Immigration Deal With Democrats, Slams Conservative Critics
That referred to a provision in the Lankford-Schumer deal that would allow up to 5,000 people a day — or nearly 2 million a year — to enter the U.S. before the border shuts down.
Lankford claimed on Sunday that is not what the bill allows. But did not offer details of how the critics are wrong.
“Authorizing several thousand people to invade our borders before any action can be taken is contrary to the oath that Senator Lankford took to the Constitution and therefore outside of the area that he is authorized to negotiate in,” the resolution stated.
Thus, the Oklahoma GOP declared in the document that it “strongly condemns” him for his participation in the Democrats’ proposal and that if he did not quit, the party “will cease all support for him.”
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