In a move that has sent shockwaves through the American trucking industry and immigrant communities alike, Oklahoma officials have doubled down on a sweeping immigration enforcement campaign targeting commercial truck drivers. The latest crackdown—dubbed Operation Guardian—unfolded over three tense days at the port of entry on eastbound Interstate 40 in Beckham County, Oklahoma, resulting in the arrest of more than 125 individuals, most of whom were behind the wheels of heavy trucks. The operation, which concluded just days before October 2, 2025, is part of a broader strategy to ramp up immigration enforcement on the nation’s highways, with ripple effects being felt far beyond the state’s borders.
According to Oklahoma Public Safety Commissioner Tim Tipton, the blitz involved a coordinated effort between 20 state troopers, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Over the course of the operation, officials made contact with approximately 520 people. Tipton reported that about a quarter of those stopped—roughly 25%—were found to be in the country illegally, and a staggering 90% of those were operating commercial motor vehicles. "Everybody was taken into custody without any resistance," Tipton told KGOU, underscoring the efficiency and orderliness of the action.
The arrests, however, are just the tip of the iceberg. Governor Kevin Stitt, who has been a vocal supporter of tougher immigration measures, revealed that those apprehended came from a diverse array of countries, including India, Uzbekistan, China, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Mauritania, and more. The sweep also exposed a troubling trend: the use of fraudulent commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). In one particularly striking case, a license issued in New York was found with the name field simply reading "No Name Given." Stitt did not mince words in his criticism of states like New York, which he accused of lax standards that, in his view, put public safety at risk. "If New York wants to hand out CDLs to illegal immigrants with ‘No Name Given,’ that’s on them. The moment they cross into Oklahoma, they answer to our laws," Stitt declared.
The operation’s focus on commercial trucks licensed and registered in so-called "sanctuary states"—jurisdictions perceived as being more lenient on undocumented immigrants—was no coincidence. Oklahoma Corporation Chair Kim David emphasized the safety rationale behind the crackdown, telling the Oklahoma Voice, "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." Commissioner Todd Hiett echoed this sentiment, highlighting the professionalism, training, and technology used to swiftly assess each driver and vehicle for compliance. "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," Hiett said.
But the story doesn’t end in Oklahoma. Across the Midwest and beyond, similar enforcement actions have taken place under the banner of Operation Midway Blitz, launched a little over two weeks before October 2, 2025. As reported by Serbian Times, at least a dozen Serbian truck drivers have been arrested in states such as Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Texas, as well as at a bridge near the Canadian border. The legal grounds for these detentions have varied: lack of work visas, unresolved asylum processes, residency documentation discrepancies, and even poor English language skills were all cited as reasons for arrest. In several cases, drivers held CDLs from states like Washington or Florida, but had their residency registered elsewhere, raising red flags for immigration agents.
The enforcement actions have sown deep unease within immigrant communities, particularly among Serbian-Americans in the Midwest. Company dispatchers have reportedly begun warning drivers with irregular status or limited English proficiency to avoid routes with weigh stations, where ICE agents are known to be stationed. One dispatcher, speaking to Serbian Times, explained, "It is also a problem if you do not speak English well and cannot communicate effectively with ICE officers, which can be an additional reason for them to detain you." The fear is palpable, and the sense of scrutiny is growing.
The consequences of these raids have sometimes turned tragic. In the Chicago suburb of Franklin Park, a 38-year-old Mexican immigrant named Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez was killed after resisting arrest by ICE agents. According to reports, Villegas-Gonzalez struck a federal officer with his car and drove with the officer on the hood for several meters before the officer fired the fatal shots. The incident, which occurred during the height of recent enforcement activity, has intensified debate over the tactics and human cost of such operations.
Back in Oklahoma, officials have made it clear that these efforts are not a one-off. Tipton stated, "Now that we have an administration in place that will let us apply the law, this absolutely will be a sustained model." Under Operation Guardian, every Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer has been cross-commissioned by ICE, granting them the authority to interrogate, arrest, and detain undocumented immigrants. Those arrested are processed at ICE offices in Oklahoma City or Tulsa before being transferred to holding facilities in Oklahoma or Texas. Vehicles driven by detained truckers are impounded at local storage yards, and can only be reclaimed by owners or trucking companies after paying towing and storage fees.
Officials stressed that the primary driver behind these operations is public safety, pointing to the inherent risks of allowing unverified individuals to operate 80,000-pound rigs on public highways. Yet, for many truck drivers—especially those from immigrant backgrounds—the crackdown has introduced a new level of anxiety and uncertainty to an already demanding profession. The message from Oklahoma’s leaders is unambiguous: the state intends to keep its roads safe, even if it means stepping up the pressure on those who, for whatever reason, find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
As the dust settles from these high-profile sweeps, the debate over immigration enforcement, state versus federal authority, and the rights of non-citizen workers on America’s highways shows no sign of abating. For now, Oklahoma’s Operation Guardian stands as a stark example of the lengths to which some states are willing to go to enforce their vision of law and order—leaving truckers, companies, and communities grappling with the real-world consequences of an increasingly tough stance on immigration.
