Oklahoma – Governor Kevin Stitt recently revealed that the State of Oklahoma has finalized three agreements with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, granting enhanced authority to state law enforcement agencies under Operation Guardian. The agreements, which involve the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN), and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), will allow these agencies to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify, arrest, and remove criminal illegal aliens from the state.
Governor Stitt emphasized the importance of these agreements in empowering law enforcement to perform their duties more effectively. “Law enforcement can’t do their jobs with one hand tied behind their back. By working directly with ICE, our law enforcement officers now have additional tools to keep dangerous criminals off our streets and protect Oklahomans,” Stitt said. “Oklahoma is proud to lead the way in strengthening border security from the state’s side and enforcing the rule of law.”
Under these agreements, specially trained officers from DPS, OBN, and OSBI will be granted the authority to take several actions under the Immigration and Nationality Act, including:
– Interrogating individuals about their immigration status and processing those arrested for state or federal crimes for immigration violations.
– Arresting individuals suspected of violating immigration laws without a warrant if they are likely to evade capture.
– Serving and executing arrest warrants for immigration violations.
– Issuing immigration detainers and assisting in the transport of illegal aliens to ICE detention facilities.
The agreements also ensure that participating officers undergo federal training and work under ICE supervision when enforcing immigration laws. These requirements are designed to ensure that the process is carried out with the necessary expertise and oversight.
By finalizing these agreements, Oklahoma has positioned itself as one of the first states to fully integrate multiple state law enforcement agencies into ICE-led task forces, furthering its commitment to combating illegal immigration and safeguarding communities across the state.
