More than 250 people packed a Tulsa Regional Chamber event Thursday to hear U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, speak about the impact of a new government shutdown, AI regulation and immigration enforcement, among other issues in Washington, D.C.
The government entered a partial shutdown Saturday after a failure to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
Congressional Democrats are demanding a change in how Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts itself after the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
Unlike the October shutdown, which lasted a record 43 days, this closure only affects agencies under DHS, including TSA.
“When you defund ICE and you’re defunding Homeland Security, it also takes away funding from TSA, it takes away funding from the Coast Guard,” Lankford told the audience. “It takes away funding from FEMA, it takes away money from the Secret Service. It takes away funding from all of our officials to handle customs at our border, in our mail processing centers.”
The senator said he took part in a DHS committee meeting with Minnesota’s attorney general and ICE leadership. He was told that 70% of migrants who underwent removal proceedings had a criminal record.
However, a DHS internal document found the number is actually 60% — with 14% being nonviolent charges.
Lankford also highlighted a DHS app, called CBP, that allows people in the country illegally to self-deport.
“We as Americans, should treat all people with dignity and respect. That’s who we must be,” he said. “We’re also a nation that’s under a law. We should maintain that balance between treating people with dignity and respect and honoring the law.”
Impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill
Lankford said the One Big Beautiful Bill, which was signed by President Trump last summer, made a permanent change in tax policy to allow people to write off their taxes for certain purchases.
He highlighted the following examples:
- Businesses who purchase major pieces of equipment can get a tax write off for said purchases in the same filing year.
- A person can donate up to $2,000 to a nonprofit of their choice and be able to write off that donation on their taxes.
- A teacher who has to buy their own classroom supplies and their own classroom expenses can write those off.
- A business can double its tax credit if it gives assistance to employees in need of childcare, and also write the employee off.
These changes are in line with Lankford’s desire to help small businesses and nonprofits grow while increasing access to child care for parents, he said.
AI regulation
With AI etching itself into people’s day-to-day lives, Lankford was asked how Congress should approach regulating the technology.
He expressed major concerns about the growth and use of AI, particularly the effects it could have on children and younger people who use chat bots to seek emotional advice.
“What counsel is that AI going to do? These are hard issues we’re going to deal with as culture, but they’re also legislative issues,” he said. “What will AI feed my kids?”
Lankford said he is also concerned about differences between a human controlling weaponry, and how AI would use it. He described it as a “different level of threat” for the U.S. and said Congress is taking a serious look at it.
Business landscape for oil, aerospace
Following the U.S. capture of then-Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration took control over the country’s oil reserves. The Latin American country has the largest oil reserves in the world, making potential investments for foreign businesses enticing as the country enters a transitional period under U.S. control.
Lankford was asked how Oklahoma companies can be recognized as preferred partners moving forward. One of his top priorities is to create contingencies for U.S. companies who fear the idea of Venezuela nationalizing its oil industry.
“If Venezuela chooses to nationalize in the days ahead, then we get sanctions and tariffs and consequences coming down on them that would make them second guess trying to be able to steal American infrastructure that’s actually in their country,” Lankford said. “It benefits their country and ours if we’re able to invest but it doesn’t help either if they steal it.”
Lankford was also asked how he will support the aerospace industry at the federal level. Last month, Agile Space Industries broke ground on its upcoming space testing center in north Tulsa. Set to open in 2027, the center marks Oklahoma’s latest push to become a hub for space technology.
The test center will function as a place that simulates the environment of space to ensure satellites, rockets and other technology will work once they’re launched.
“We have more and more folks that are coming on board in satellite production that are here in Oklahoma. We’re building the synergy with multiple businesses … to be able to do that,” Lankford said.
As the event came to a close, Lankford spoke about the country’s legacy as it approaches its 250th anniversary. Despite ongoing issues, he thinks the founding fathers would be proud of what the U.S. has become.
“We’re the leading economy and the leading force for good in the world,” Lankford said. “We lose track of that because we’re Americans.”
Ismael Lele is a Report for America corps member and writes about business in Tulsa for The Oklahoma Eagle. Your donation to match our Report for America grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting this link.
