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A three-day ICE operation along the I-40 led to the detention of 120 drivers for immigration-related violations.

A three-day operation along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma led to the detention of 120 drivers for immigration-related violations. The operation was carried out by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Law enforcement agents from ICE and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) conducted the operation from September 22 to 25, labeling it a “special emphasis operation.” The OHP conducted approximately 520 traffic stops over the three days, while ICE agents ran background checks on foreign-born individuals encountered during those stops.

91 commercial drivers detained during ICE inspections

A total of 120 individuals were detained during the inspection, including 91 commercial vehicle drivers with CDL licenses and 27 operating passenger vehicles. Under ICE’s 287(g) program, trained local officers are authorized to identify and arrest individuals violating immigration laws during their regular duties. This program, part of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allows state and local agencies to collaborate with ICE. The agency confirmed that all OHP officers involved in the operation were accredited under this program.

Of the 91 commercial drivers detained:

  • 39 were citizens of India
  • 13 were from Uzbekistan
  • 12 were from China
 

The 27 individuals detained in passenger vehicles were citizens of Mexico, Guatemala, China, or Cuba.

ICE stated that 80 of the 91 commercial drivers had either entered the United States illegally or were awaiting asylum hearings, while one had a final order of removal. According to a DHS press release, the 120 individuals detained had legal histories involving:

  • Multiple DUI offenses
  • Illegal reentry into the U.S.
  • Money laundering
  • Human trafficking
  • Assault
  • Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
  • Possession of a controlled substance
 
Operación de ICE detiene a 120 conductores en la I-40
Image: Drazen Zigic, via Freepik.com

Federal and local agencies working together

This operation was part of a broader national effort to secure U.S. highways through inspections and programs designed to detect drivers with unlawful immigration status or non-domiciled CDLs. ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan stated in a press release that the 287(g) program highlights how federal and local law enforcement agencies can collaborate to restore safety across the country.

“Illegal aliens have no business driving 18-wheelers on America’s highways. Our roads are now safer with these illegal drivers removed from behind the wheel. We encourage more state and local law enforcement agencies to sign 287(g) agreements to help eliminate public safety threats and access the available reimbursement funding for our law enforcement partners,” Sheahan stated.

This type of operation will continue nationwide, as the current administration plans to carry out large-scale deportations. The locations of inspections are not announced in advance in order to avoid tipping off potential violators. While these raids have sparked mixed reactions within the industry, authorities maintain that their primary goal is to ensure national security.

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