OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Authorities have conducted another successful phase of the strategic “Operation Guardian,” resulting in additional arrests. This operation follows the September apprehension of 120 undocumented immigrants in Western Oklahoma.
“Operation Guardian” is a collaborative initiative spearheaded by Governor Stitt in conjunction with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The latest crackdown took place in Eastern Oklahoma, where Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers primarily focused on stopping commercial motor vehicles.
In this recent effort, law enforcement officers arrested 73 undocumented immigrants.
“The results are almost staggering when you think of how many illegal drivers and non-English speaking drivers we run across that are that are operating these massive semis on our interstate system,” said Tim Tipton, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Commissioner.
During the most recent sting, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Tim Tipton said posts on social media from the East Coast were warning commercial truck drivers of the operation and told them to find an alternate route to avoid Oklahoma altogether.
However, even with the posts, OHP troopers and ICE agents arrested 73 people, 34 of whom were driving commercial vehicles.
“In this case, with commercial motor vehicles, the proof is easy to see. It is dangerous to our citizens when we have people who are here illegally, untrained, operating these types of vehicles. And so it is a true public safety issue that, that we will aggressively enforce,” said Tipton.
Tipton said all highway patrol troopers are credentialed under ICE. When asked about probable cause to make an arrest during an operation like this, Tipton said, “If they’re an illegal alien, they’re here illegally. That’s what this 287(g) authority under ICE gives us the right to do. We can then interrogate. We can question, and we can seize based on that 287(g) federal authority. That’s why it’s important for every trooper to be able to have that ability, that authority.”
In the most recent sting, Tipton also said they stopped over 500 cars and, after searching the ICE database, learned several foreign drivers were in the country legally.
“They have a current visa; they have a current right to be in the country. And they’re released back to their truck and, and going down the road,” said Tipton.
Tipton said several of those arrested had a lengthy criminal history and were from several countries: India, Pakistan, China, Ukraine, Russia, Honduras, and more.
They have plans to continue these specific types of efforts across the state in the future.
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