(The Center Square) – A targeted immigration crackdown that took place over several days along I-40 in Oklahoma led to the arrest of 120 illegal foreign nationals. The overwhelming majority, 91, were operating a commercial vehicle with commercial driver’s licenses (CDL).

The multi-agency operation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in concert with Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers partnering in ICE’s 287(g) program to improve public safety on a major interstate and enforce federal and state CDL and immigration laws. 

As OHP troopers pulled over drivers, ICE officers ran records checks on foreign-born nationals, ICE said. This led to ICE arresting and taking into custody 120 illegal foreign nationals on immigration violations; 91 had obtained CDLs while living in the U.S. illegally. 

Two illegal foreign nationals were also arrested from a nearby marijuana grow operation, ICE said.

Many arrested already had convictions for a range of crimes, including multiple DUIs, illegal re-entry into the U.S., money laundering, human smuggling, assault, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a controlled substance, ICE said.

If the CDLs were issued in Oklahoma, the convictions would result in a CDL suspension or disqualification, especially if the convictions were for DUI/DWIs, blood alcohol concentration test refusals and serious traffic violations like speeding and reckless driving, according to state law. 

In Texas, state troopers have been cracking down on CDL enforcement, finding most violations are committed by non-Texas driver’s license holders, The Center Square reported. 

“ICE’s 287(g) program clearly demonstrates how federal and local law enforcement agencies can work together to make America safe again,” ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan said. “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.” 

The 287(g) program is named after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1996, 8 USC 1357, Section 287(g)(1), which authorizes ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration functions only under ICE’s direction and supervision. Local law enforcement officers can apply to participate in the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM), Task Force Model (TFM) and Warrant Service Officer (WSO) model, The Center Square reported.

In just 10 months, ICE has signed 1,036 Memorandums of Agreement for 287(g) programs in 40 states, according to the latest data as of Oct. 6. They include JEM agreements with 133 law enforcement agencies in 28 states; WSO agreements with 381 law enforcement agencies in 35 states; and TFM agreements with 522 agencies in 35 states.

There are currently 46 pending 287(g) program applications with ICE, including six for JEM, 17 for WSO and 23 for TFM programs, according to the latest data as of Oct. 6.

In Oklahoma, multiple agencies are already participating in 287(g), including the sheriff’s offices of Blaine, Canadian, Lincoln, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Texas and Tulsa counties; the Barnsdall, Eufaula, Geary, Sterling and Vinita police departments; Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and the Criminal Justice Authority and district attorney’s office of Okmulgee County, according to ICE data as of Oct. 6. 

Pending applications in Oklahoma include Beggs Police Department for the JEM, WSO and TFM programs and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for the TFM program.