GOP Gov. Stitt Urges Trump to Allow States to Import Migrant Workers

Stitt argues state-run immigration programs could 'calm' partisan battles over migration

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:15pm

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Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt is urging President Donald Trump to allow states to import a new category of cheap foreign workers for U.S. jobs, arguing it would 'calm' the escalating political battles over immigration. Stitt's proposal would create a sub-citizen class of migrant workers without U.S. citizenship, which he claims would fix labor shortages while avoiding deportations.

Why it matters

Stitt's plan is a direct challenge to Trump's low-immigration economic strategy, which has boosted American wages and reduced costs. Critics argue Stitt's proposal would further damage the U.S. middle class by creating a race to the bottom on wages, while empowering progressives and big-government Democrats who could use the new migrant class to justify expanded social programs.

The details

Stitt is proposing that states be given the authority to issue 'workforce permits' that would allow employers to hire foreign migrant workers without granting them U.S. citizenship. He argues this would 'fix' the immigration system by matching employers with existing undocumented workers, while avoiding mass deportations. However, the plan would likely lead to intense lobbying by corporations for cheap labor permits, driving down wages for American workers.

  • In May 2024, Stitt described undocumented migrants in Oklahoma as 'great, hard-working Oklahomans'.
  • On January 29, 2026, the National Governors' Association, co-chaired by Stitt, urged Trump to give up the fight against the sanctuary state of Minnesota.

The players

Kevin Stitt

The Republican Governor of Oklahoma who is proposing that states be given the authority to issue 'workforce permits' to allow employers to hire foreign migrant workers.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, whose low-immigration economic policies Stitt's proposal would undermine.

Dana Bash

The CNN host who interviewed Stitt about his immigration proposal.

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What they’re saying

“We have to stop politicizing this [fight over immigration], we need real solutions on immigration reform. And I believe that I've got a great solution that we should give the states the authority to do workforce permits.”

— Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma

“If the feds are not going to do it and they're not going to get involved and do this the right way, we know there are great, hard-working [migrants] Oklahomans that just can't get through the [legal immigration] system.”

— Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma

What’s next

The National Governors' Association, co-chaired by Stitt, has urged Trump to give up the fight against the sanctuary state of Minnesota, indicating a potential escalation of the political battle over immigration.

The takeaway

Stitt's proposal to allow states to import a new class of cheap foreign workers is a direct challenge to Trump's successful low-immigration economic policies, which have boosted American wages and reduced costs. Critics argue Stitt's plan would further damage the U.S. middle class and empower progressive Democrats who could use the new migrant class to justify expanded social programs.