Media

NewsOK - Chris Casteel

The White House came out strongly on Tuesday against the defense spending bill set to be considered by the full U.S. House this week and specifically cited a provision that would protect AWACS planes stationed at Tinker Air Force Base.

A statement from the White House budget office says a section of the spending bill authored by Rep. Tom Cole "would prevent the Air Force from using funds to divest or to disestablish any units of the active or reserve component associated with E-3 airborne warning and control system aircraft.

True patriotism is embodied in the lives of those who volunteered to defend and protect our nation, and their remarkable, selfless acts of service must never be taken for granted. We are forever indebted to them for their service, and they deserve the utmost support and appreciation every day of the year. Not only should they receive our continuous gratitude, but just as they answered the dangerous call of duty, we have the duty to take care of them when they return home from the battlefield.

The Oklahoman - Silas Allen

A day after the first wave of unaccompanied immigrant children began arriving at Fort Sill, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole blamed President Barack Obama for the predicament.

Speaking to a group of journalists and publishers Saturday, Cole, R-Moore, said Obama had failed to stanch the flow of people, including unaccompanied children, entering the country illegally across the U.S.-Mexico border.

“This is not a humanitarian crisis,” Cole said. “This is a policy failure.”

The Oklahoman - Editorial Board

Over the course of this year, as many as 90,000 minors fleeing crime- and poverty-ridden Central American countries could be given haven in the United States. Few will ever return to their homeland, prompting U.S. Rep. Tom Cole to say this week: “We need to have some frank policy discussions.”

The Oklahoman - Rick Green and Chris Casteel

Hundreds of young people who came across the southern U.S. border illegally are expected to begin arriving this week at Fort Sill, where they will be housed temporarily.

“Our target date to begin receiving children at Fort Sill is Friday, June 13,” Kenneth J. Wolfe, spokesman for the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said Monday.

News9 - Michael Konopasek

Questions remained unanswered late Monday over what will come of more than 600 illegal juvenile immigrants on their way to Oklahoma from Texas and Arizona.

Federal officials said the children, who could be living at Ft. Sill for up to four months, could be at the post as early as Tuesday morning.

"As far as the financial [impact], it's putting more [of a] burden here," Lawton resident Cedric Lax said.

KFOR - Jesse Wells

A plan to house hundreds of illegal immigrants at an Oklahoma military base comes under fire.

Officials at Fort Sill announced they would help house somewhere between 600 and 1,200 children.

Those kids are in our country illegally.

That’s sparked two criticisms from Republicans.

They don’t like military bases being used for non military needs and they’re critical of President Obama’s immigration policies.

“It is alarming to have 1200 children in a military installation,” said governor Mary Fallin.