Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction, Ryan Walters, has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, seeking $474 million in compensation for the financial strain caused by educating undocumented migrant children in the state. According to the suit, Oklahoma schools have faced significant fiscal challenges due to an influx of migrant students, with an estimated $13,736 spent per student in the 2023-24 school year.
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This cost is based on the funding needed for additional resources, staffing, and support to accommodate these students.
The legal action focuses on the burden placed on Oklahoma’s education system, which Walters claims is a direct result of the federal government’s border policies. The lawsuit points to the fact that between 2021 and 2023, approximately 3,000 unaccompanied migrant children were sent to Oklahoma, putting pressure on already strained school budgets. Walters argues that while the federal government has failed to adequately address immigration and border security, the responsibility of funding the education of these children has fallen on the state’s taxpayers.
High costs of education for migrant students
As reported by the Daily Mail, the lawsuit outlines that the average cost to educate each migrant student in Oklahoma amounts to $13,736 for the 2023-2024 school year. This figure includes expenses such as recruiting bilingual staff, providing additional school counselors, conducting academic and language assessments, and offering transportation and nutritional assistance. Walters emphasizes that these additional costs have caused severe financial and operational strain on public schools across the state.
The lawsuit asserts that educating undocumented migrant children in Oklahoma has incurred an estimated additional $41.2 million in costs since the start of the Biden administration, as detailed by the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System. Walters also highlights that the increase in migrant student enrollment has forced schools to adjust their infrastructure, including adding makeshift classrooms and splitting lunch schedules due to overcrowding.
A call for accountability
In a statement, Walters emphasized that the lawsuit is about holding the federal government accountable for its border policies and ensuring that Oklahoma students receive the quality education they deserve. “While President Biden has neglected his responsibility to protect our borders for four years, hard working Oklahomans are forced to cover the costs of his dereliction of duty,” Walters said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
The lawsuit is a reflection of growing concerns from states grappling with the financial impact of federal immigration policies. As schools across the nation face similar challenges, Oklahoma’s legal action could set a precedent for other states seeking federal reimbursement for the costs associated with educating migrant children.
