US Authorities have arrested 70 undocumented immigrants, including 34 truck drivers, in Oklahoma amid growing crackdown on illegal commercial drivers.
Federal Immigration Authorities have arrested 70 undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma, including 34 operating semi-trucks or commercial vehicles, during a two-day enforcement sweep carried out between October 28 and 29, 2025.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said the arrests were part of Operation Guardian, a multi-agency initiative launched earlier this year to remove illegal immigrants driving commercial vehicles without proper authorization. The operation was conducted in partnership with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
According to ICE, 26 of the arrested truck drivers held Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs), while eight others were found operating heavy vehicles without any license at all. Officials said the individuals came from 15 countries, including Mexico, India, China, Turkey, Colombia, Guatemala, and Venezuela.
The agency said the crackdown aims to protect public safety and uphold immigration law. “Illegal immigrants who operate vehicles without proper authorization endanger lives and undermine the rule of law,” ICE said in a statement.
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Oklahoma’s Governor Kevin Stitt praised the arrests, saying the initiative “continues to keep Oklahomans safe.” He emphasized that only individuals who are legally in the country and proficient in English should operate commercial vehicles.
President Donald Trump has also prioritized the issue. In April, he signed an executive order requiring all commercial drivers nationwide to demonstrate English proficiency. “Truckers are the backbone of our economy,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the time, “and communication on the road is essential for safety.”
The Oklahoma operation follows a broader federal campaign. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on October 30, 2025, that 223 undocumented immigrants, including 146 truck drivers, were arrested in Indiana near the Illinois border for various offenses such as drug trafficking, assault, and fraud.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the actions were part of the administration’s effort to end “chaos” caused by sanctuary states issuing CDLs to undocumented immigrants.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy later revealed that a federal audit uncovered widespread irregularities in how some states issued commercial licenses to foreign nationals. The Department of Transportation has since introduced stricter eligibility checks using federal immigration verification systems.
While immigrant rights groups criticized the measures, arguing they could deepen labor shortages in the trucking industry, federal officials insist the new standards are essential for protecting public safety and national security.
