Dozens of people were arrested during an immigration enforcement operation that took place near the Oklahoma border with Arkansas, officials announced on Tuesday.
An “Operation Guardian” enforcement sweep took place recently along I-40 in eastern Oklahoma, according to a November 4 statement from Oklahoma Public Safety Commissioner Tim Tipton.
During the 15 hour operation, more than 500 vehicles were contacted, and 73 people were arrested for immigration violations, including 34 commercial vehicle drivers, KOSU reports.
The I-40 operation was conducted by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This is the second major immigration enforcement operation to take place on I-40 in Oklahoma in recent weeks. A similar operation took place in western Oklahoma in September 2025, resulting in the arrest of 120 people for immigration violations. Of those arrested, the Department of Homeland Security said that 91 were operating a commercial motor vehicle with a commercial driver license (CDL).
In February 2025, a 287(g) partnership between the state of Oklahoma and ICE was announced, allowing state troopers to enforce immigration laws with ICE oversight.
“ICE’s 287(g) program clearly demonstrates how federal and local law enforcement agencies can work together to make America safe again,” said Madison Sheahan, ICE Deputy Director, said of the September sweep. “Illegal aliens have no business operating 18 wheelers on America’s highways. Our roads are now safer with these illegal aliens no longer behind the wheel. We encourage more state and local law enforcement to sign 287(g) agreements to help remove public safety threats and receive reimbursement funds available to our law enforcement partners.”
“President Trump is fulfilling his promise of a secure border and removing those who are a threat to public safety,” said Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. “We’ll be able to leverage our existing law enforcement infrastructure and federal resources to enforce the law and keep Oklahomans safe. There will be no haven for illegal immigrants who break our laws. We will uphold Oklahoma’s strong tradition of being a law & order state.”