What happened
“Sanctuary city” is not a legal category. It is a label the federal government applies to states, counties and cities whose laws or policies, in its words, “obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.” The framework comes from Executive Order 14287, signed April 28, 2025. It told the Attorney General to publish a list of those jurisdictions within 30 days; told every federal agency to “identify appropriate Federal funds to sanctuary jurisdictions, including grants and contracts, for suspension or termination, as appropriate”; and told the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to “pursue all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures” against jurisdictions that stay on it.
The Justice Department published that list on August 5, 2025 and says it is reviewed regularly. As updated on October 31, 2025, it names 11 states plus the District of Columbia, 3 counties and 18 cities. Oklahoma is not on it, and no Oklahoma county or city is. The department says each listed jurisdiction “will have an opportunity to respond,” and it has removed jurisdictions that signed cooperation agreements with ICE, Baltimore County being the most recent example we could confirm.
The newest document is from this week. On September 1, 2026, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion on the 1996 welfare-reform law. It concludes that when a state takes part in TANF (cash assistance for families) and SSI, the word “State” in that law “encompasses all component agencies within a state,” so every state agency, not only the one running the benefit program, must report to DHS anyone it knows to be not lawfully present. The opinion withdraws a 1998 reading that limited the duty to the agencies administering the program. The department's release, dated September 2, says failure to comply “may lead to serious consequences, including loss of program funding.” The opinion itself says it is prospective: it cannot “retroactively alter agreements” for TANF or SSI funds made under the old reading.
In Congress, H.R. 7640, the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act of 2026, was voted out of the House Judiciary Committee on March 5, 2026. Its sponsor describes it as letting local governments in “sanctuary” states work directly with federal agencies and redirecting federal law-enforcement funds away from listed jurisdictions. As of September 7, 2026 we found no record that the full House has voted on it. A bill is a proposal until both chambers pass it and the President signs it.
Who this is about
Every one of these documents is aimed at governments: states, counties, cities and their agencies. The executive order is about which jurisdictions lose grants and face lawsuits. The DOJ list names governments, not people. The OLC opinion is addressed to the Department of Health and Human Services and is about what state agencies must report if the state takes federal welfare money.
What the documents do not say matters. None of them creates a new immigration status, a new penalty for an individual, or a new form to file. The OLC opinion does not say what DHS does with a report once it receives one, and it does not change who is eligible for TANF or SSI; those eligibility rules already exclude people without lawful status and have since 1996. And on airports: news outlets have reported that the DHS Secretary has discussed pulling customs processing from airports in listed cities. We could not find any DHS notice, order or rule saying so, so we treat that as talk, not policy, until a document exists.
What it does not mean
- It does not mean Oklahoma, Tulsa or Oklahoma City is a “sanctuary jurisdiction.” None appears on the Justice Department's list.
- It does not mean federal funds have been cut off anywhere. The order tells agencies to identify funds for possible suspension; the list itself carries no automatic penalty, and listed jurisdictions can respond or be removed.
- It does not mean a new law has passed. H.R. 7640 cleared one committee. It is not law.
- It does not mean international flights are being stopped at any airport. No agency document says that.
- It does not mean the OLC opinion changes anyone's benefits or status. It is about state agencies' reporting duties going forward, not about individuals' cases.
What to do with this
If you live in a listed jurisdiction, or you receive public benefits and are worried about what a state agency may report, the useful question is a legal one about your own situation, and it belongs with a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative at a recognized nonprofit. The organizations below are a place to start.
Advocasí is not a law firm. We explain what a policy says and help people prepare their own paperwork once a qualified advisor has told them which path applies.