On September 23, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested an undocumented migrant working as a truck driver in Oklahoma. He was found with a New York State commercial driver’s license that listed “No Name Given Anmol,” according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued on Friday.
The DHS reported that the individual, identified as Anmol Anmol, unlawfully entered the U.S. in 2023 and was subsequently “released by the Biden administration” into the country.
Newsweek reached out to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Saturday for comments outside of normal business hours. Additionally, inquiries were made to ICE via email and to New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s office through an online form.
When approached for comments on Saturday morning, the DHS directed Newsweek back to its Friday press release.
Why It Matters
Donald Trump won last year’s presidential election with a commitment to crack down on illegal immigration, including the deportation of undocumented individuals already residing in the U.S.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has significantly increased funding for ICE and rolled back restrictions on the agency, resulting in a rise in deportations. Anmol’s arrest is expected to reignite discussions about the coordination between state and federal authorities regarding licensing, immigration enforcement, and public safety.
What To Know
The DHS announced on Friday that Anmol, an Indian national, was apprehended while operating an 18-wheeler in Oklahoma with a New York State commercial driver’s license that stated his name as “No Name Given Anmol.” His license was issued on April 14, 2025, and is valid until May 26, 2028. The New York DMV confirmed its validity to the New York Post.
Anmol possessed a “Class A” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), permitting him to operate large vehicles. The license is marked as a REAL ID, allowing it to be used for domestic flights and entry into federal facilities. His arrest was part of a three-day enforcement action by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and ICE along Interstate 40 as part of Oklahoma’s 287(g) collaboration, which supports federal immigration law enforcement. Following the arrest, Anmol was placed in removal proceedings.
During this operation, Oklahoma authorities detained over 120 suspected illegal immigrants, many of whom were reportedly driving commercial vehicles with out-of-state CDLs, according to the DHS.
What People Are Saying
In a statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressed concern: “Allowing illegal aliens to obtain commercial driver’s licenses to operate 18-wheelers is dangerous to public safety. Thanks to the successful collaboration of ICE and Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Anmol is no longer a threat to drivers.”
She added that New York is not adequately vetting applicants for commercial driver’s licenses, noting the lack of full legal names on some issued licenses. Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Kevin Stitt commented last month on social media, saying, “If New York wants to hand out CDLs to illegal immigrants with ‘No Name Given,’ that’s on them. The moment they cross into Oklahoma, they answer to our laws.”
What Happens Next?
Anmol remains in ICE custody as he faces removal proceedings. The DHS has stated it is reviewing its collaborations with state and federal agencies focused on removing undocumented truck drivers and ensuring that all CDL applicants are properly vetted.
Update 10/11/25, 11:36 a.m. ET: This story has been revised to indicate that the DHS provided its initial press release when queried for comment.
