OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. (KOKH) — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), in collaboration with ICE, conducted a 12-hour operation on Nov. 17 along State Highway 69 in Bryan County, resulting in the arrest of 76 individuals for immigration violations.

The operation, dubbed Operation Guardian, is aimed at disrupting criminal activity and enhancing public safety, and also included 160 commercial motor vehicle inspections. The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety also said that seven drivers were cited for violating the national standard for English language proficiency. This follows a June directive from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that requires commercial vehicle drivers to be proficient in the English language or risk being placed out of service.

During the operation, OHP apprehended two individuals near the Texas border for trafficking 160 pounds of marijuana and possessing a firearm and body armor. Nine of the arrested suspects are expected to face additional felony charges. The apprehended individuals have prior criminal histories, including drug possession, DUI, hit and run, property theft, soliciting prostitution, disorderly conduct, and illegal entry into the U.S.

OHP troopers are credentialed by ICE to enforce immigration violations. OHP has apprehended approximately 500 criminal illegal aliens, some of whom have significant criminal histories, including child sexual abuse, vehicular homicide, money laundering, human smuggling, domestic assault and battery, and burglary.

“On March 3, 2025, OHP arrested an illegal alien with ties to a Mexican cartel for trafficking over two pounds of fentanyl through Tulsa – enough Fentanyl to kill 500,000 Oklahomans. Earlier this month, OHP, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, and ATF joined forces to apprehend an illegal alien from Mexico for allegedly trafficking 75 firearms and ammunition out of Tulsa. Just last week in Muskogee, OHP apprehended an illegal alien with admitted ties to the foreign terrorist organization MS-13,” the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety said.

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