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Jake Merrick just threw down a gauntlet on immigration and foreign-worker visas in Oklahoma. The Republican gubernatorial hopeful released a campaign statement promising to stop state agencies, universities, and contractors from using H‑1B and OPT visas to fill jobs that Oklahomans could do. It is a bold, plain‑spoken pitch to voters who feel left behind by global hiring practices and federal inaction.
Merrick’s promise: Protect Oklahoma jobs first
In his “Statement on Immigration and Protecting Oklahoma Workers,” Jake Merrick says he will put Oklahoma families and American workers first. He vows to block state agencies and public universities from using H‑1B and OPT hires unless it is proven no qualified Oklahoman exists. He also promises to ban state contracts with companies that import cheaper foreign labor instead of hiring local workers. On enforcement, Merrick backs President Donald Trump’s approach and even urges removing commercial driver’s licenses from non‑citizens while letting local law officers work with federal immigration agents.
What a governor actually controls — and what he doesn’t
Let’s be clear: visas like H‑1B and OPT are issued by the federal government. A governor cannot pick up the phone and stop someone in another country from getting a visa. What a governor can do is stop state money from subsidizing those hires. That means changing state hiring rules, university policies, and procurement rules so Oklahoma tax dollars don’t go to companies that prioritize foreign labor. Those are real levers. They are also the places opponents will challenge in court if Merrick tries to use them aggressively.
CDLs and practical state moves
On commercial driver’s licenses, Oklahoma already has taken steps to tighten rules and enforcement. Merrick is tapping into that work by promising to pull non‑domiciled CDLs and tighten documentation for drivers. That is a practical, state‑level tool that can make a difference in the trucking market. It won’t solve every problem, but it’s the kind of action voters expect when candidates say they will protect homegrown workers.
Why voters should care — and what to watch for
Middle‑class Oklahomans are worried. They see graduates leaving state schools while jobs are filled by visa holders or outsourced labor. Merrick’s plan speaks to that frustration. It also lines him up with the national America First immigration movement and with Governor Kevin Stitt’s prior state efforts on similar issues. Voters should watch how Merrick turns these campaign promises into rule changes, and how courts and federal agencies respond when state policies collide with federal immigration law. If he can translate words into enforceable policies that protect workers without breaking the law, he’ll have done more than campaign talk — he’ll have delivered.
Jake Merrick has given Oklahoma voters a clear choice: keep letting federal visa rules dictate who gets state jobs, or use state power to prioritize Oklahomans. That’s a debate worth having. If he follows through, it will shake up contracts, campus hiring and the trucking lanes. If he doesn’t, it will be another campaign promise that sounds good in a press release and fades in the governor’s office. Voters should hold him to it — and enjoy the political fireworks when the lawyers show up.
