WASHINGTON — A contentious hearing concerning the Trump administration's intensified efforts against foreign truck drivers was leveraged to advocate for enhanced collaboration between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement agencies. The goal is to facilitate the detention and deportation of undocumented truckers.

During his testimony supporting the Trump administration's restrictions on non-domiciled truck drivers, Tim Tipton, Commissioner of Oklahoma’s Department of Public Safety, detailed to the House Homeland Security Committee’s oversight subcommittee how the credentialing of state and local officers through ICE in 2025 has empowered the state’s highway patrol to apprehend over 450 commercial drivers for immigration violations.

Tim Tipton testifying on Wednesday. Credit: House Homeland Security Committee.

"Many of these drivers struggle with even basic English language proficiency and likely received their licenses from unscrupulous CDL mills," Tipton stated in his testimony.

When questioned by committee chairman Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., about the feasibility of replicating this model in other states, particularly "red" states, Tipton indicated that it could be implemented relatively quickly.