Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt shared implementation plans for what his office called Operation Guardian Wednesday.
The governor’s office described the plan as a comprehensive deportation operation led by Oklahoma Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Tipton.
“Former president Biden’s weak border policies allowed our country to become a safe haven for criminal illegal migrants – that ends in Oklahoma with Operation Guardian.” Governor Kevin Stitt said. “I’m grateful we have a President in the White House who is taking action where the former refused to. These dangerous illegal aliens should not be walking on our streets, and they soon won’t be. Oklahoma will continue to stand for law & order.”
According to Gov. Stitt’s office, Operation Guardian is intended to “transfer illegal aliens from state and county custody into federal custody for deportation.”
A release from the governor’s office said the state will utilize existing state and federal law to transfer such offenders directly into deportation proceedings.
The governor said Operation Guardian will oversee new, expanded agreements with ICE to give state and local law enforcement the authority to detain and process individuals for removal. Furthermore, Stitt said people who’ve already been released from custody would also be targeted for deportation.
The governor’s office said it costs Oklahoma taxpayers $36,000 per day to house 525 individuals in state correctional facilities. Stitt’s office said the majority of those in custody and who meet the criteria have committed violent crimes such as: crimes against children, sexual assaults and homicides.
The governor’s office didn’t provide numbers, but eluded to the possibility that other such individuals are currently being held in county jails across Oklahoma.
The plan would not be executed until all aspects of the Trump Administration’s policies are enacted, Commissioner Tipton said in Operation Guardian documents. Those documents outline how violent and non-violent offenders would be considered for “removal” - or parole.
Parole for violent offenders would be subject to the discretion of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board and the governor, according to the plan.