Cuban Trucker Detained in Oklahoma ICE Sweep for Driving Without Commercial License

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA — A Cuban national driving a truck without a commercial driver’s license (CDL) has been detained in Oklahoma as part of a multi-agency operation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP). Officials say the driver, who lacks legal immigration status, was among more than 120 undocumented immigrants arrested during the late-September sweep.

The joint operation, conducted between September 22 and 25 along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma, targeted commercial and passenger vehicles as part of ICE’s 287(g) program, which allows state law enforcement agencies to assist in identifying and detaining undocumented individuals.

ICE Confirms Large-Scale Arrests During Oklahoma Patrol

According to ICE, a total of 120 undocumented immigrants were detained during the enforcement effort. Of those, 91 were operating commercial vehicles with a CDL and 29 were driving without one.

The unnamed Cuban truck driver was among the group found without a valid license. Authorities said he was stopped during a routine highway inspection and taken into custody without incident.

ICE also reported that 27 undocumented immigrants were detained in passenger vehicles during standard traffic checks, while two others were arrested at a nearby marijuana cultivation site.

Offenses and Criminal Backgrounds Among Detainees

ICE’s statement noted that many of those detained had prior criminal convictions for offenses including DUI, illegal reentry, human trafficking, money laundering, assault, and drug possession.

“Illegal immigrants have no business driving 18-wheelers on American highways,” said Madison Sheahan, ICE’s deputy director. “Our roads are now safer as these illegal aliens are no longer behind the wheel.”

Of the 91 undocumented individuals who possessed a CDL, 10 had overstayed their visas, while 80 entered the country illegally or were in pending asylum or immigration hearings. One person reportedly had a final deportation order.

Among the 29 individuals found driving without licenses, ICE identified one from Cuba, three from China, ten from Guatemala, and fifteen from Mexico — with 23 of them having entered the U.S. between 2020 and 2024.

Fatal Crashes by Unlicensed Immigrant Truckers Prompted Crackdown

The Oklahoma operation comes in the wake of several deadly crashes across the U.S. involving undocumented or unlicensed truck drivers.

In one high-profile case from Texas, Cuban national Alexis Osmani González Companioni, 27, was accused of causing a multi-fatal crash on Interstate 20 after allegedly falling asleep at the wheel. The accident killed five people, including four members of one family, reigniting debate over commercial driver licensing standards for non-citizens.

Federal Tightening of CDL Rules for Non-Citizens

In response to these incidents, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced stricter requirements for non-citizens applying for commercial driving privileges.

The new rules limit CDL eligibility to holders of only three visa types (H-2A, H-2B, and E-2) and require federal immigration status verification. Licenses may not exceed one year in validity or extend past the applicant’s visa expiration date.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the changes are meant to “ensure only qualified and legally authorized drivers are operating commercial vehicles on American highways.”

Understanding ICE’s 287(g) Program

The 287(g) program allows local and state law enforcement to partner directly with ICE agents, granting officers authority to identify and detain undocumented immigrants during regular policing activity.

Officials say this collaboration has become a critical tool for states like Oklahoma, where major interstate trucking routes intersect with federal enforcement operations.

As immigration enforcement intensifies nationwide, ICE officials say the Oklahoma arrests underscore the importance of state cooperation and federal oversight in keeping roads safe and preventing undocumented individuals from operating commercial vehicles.

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