Oklahoma, ICE Remove 130 Truck Drivers From Roads in Three-Day Crackdown: 'Oklahomans Deserve Safe Highways'

Oklahoma officials said 130 commercial truck drivers were arrested and removed from the road during a three-day immigration enforcement operation at the Beckham County Port of Entry.

The effort, carried out along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and state law enforcement agencies, targeted non-compliant drivers and trucks licensed in California.

"Oklahomans deserve safe highways," said Oklahoma Corporation Commission Chair Kim David in a statement. "We appreciate the opportunity to assist ICE and DPS Troop S by removing non-compliant and dangerous drivers from our roads. By working together as law enforcement partners, we're reducing risks for every driver."

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission said the crackdown, dubbed "Operation Guardian," focused on commercial driver's license holders amid growing concerns about the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs in other states. Gov. Kevin Stitt praised the effort and said it resulted in the apprehension of more than 125 undocumented immigrants from countries including India, Uzbekistan, China, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Mauritania:

"If New York wants to hand out CDLs to illegal immigrants with 'No Name Given,' that's on them. I want to thank our troopers and ICE officials for their hard work. This is about keeping Oklahomans safe"

According to the Corporation Commission, nearly 5.6 million large trucks entered Oklahoma in fiscal year 2025, with about 1.4 million crossing the state border at the Beckham County port alone. Officials said the site was chosen for the operation due to its high traffic volume.

Commissioner Todd Hiett noted that the ports of entry are often the first stop for truck drivers entering Oklahoma:

"Our officers' professionalism, training and use of technology quickly assess each driver and rig to resolve permitting concerns, issue a ticket with an associated fine, or require the driver to pull over and submit to further inspection of their credentials or truck"

Commissioner Brian Bingman cited concerns over licensing practices in other states. "The inability to read road signs written in English will lead to accidents. This negligence creates risk for Oklahoma's drivers," he said.

The enforcement follows new federal restrictions on non-domiciled CDLs announced last week by the Department of Transportation, which described the current process as a threat to public safety, as Landland Media pointed out. States including California, Colorado and Texas have come under review for licensing practices that federal officials say allow unqualified drivers to operate commercial vehicles nationwide.