ICE Detains Almost 100 Illegal Migrant Truck Drivers as Authorities Tighten Regulations on the Sector

Federal Immigration Authorities Crack Down on Illegal Immigrant Drivers

Federal immigration officials have recently detained nearly 100 undocumented immigrants who were driving illegally along a major highway, as the Trump administration intensifies its enforcement efforts against commercial immigrant drivers.

In a collaboration with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, agents from Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 91 undocumented individuals operating with commercial driver licenses (CDLs) over a three-day period on I-40. In total, 120 undocumented immigrants were detained for various immigration violations.

The Trump administration is highlighting the effectiveness of the 287(g) program, which establishes a partnership between ICE and local law enforcement, praising its role in these arrests.

“The 287(g) program demonstrates how federal and local authorities can come together to enhance safety in America,” said ICE Deputy Director Madison Xiahan in a statement. “Undocumented individuals shouldn’t be operating large vehicles on our highways.”

Xiahan emphasized, “We’re making our roads safer by removing these individuals from behind the wheel. We encourage more state and local agencies to engage in the 287(g) program to eliminate public safety risks and take advantage of available funding for law enforcement.”

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the operations conducted from September 22 to 25 were linked to various criminal activities, including money laundering and human smuggling. Additionally, two undocumented immigrants were apprehended near a marijuana cultivation site.

This operation follows a significant crackdown on foreign truck drivers after multiple serious accidents involving undocumented commercial drivers caught national attention.

For instance, in August, an illegal immigrant truck driver from India was involved in a horrific crash on a Florida turnpike that resulted in three fatalities. Another incident in Maine involved a different undocumented driver who veered off the road, leading to hospitalization for two passengers.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has since imposed stricter regulations regarding non-dominant CDLs for foreign nationals following a federal audit that revealed serious issues with how these licenses were issued. Under the new measures, many non-citizens will face stricter criteria to obtain these licenses.

“What we uncovered should be alarming for all Americans,” said DOT Chief Secretary Sean Duffy. “Licenses for managing heavy vehicles like 80,000-pound trucks were issued to potentially dangerous foreign drivers.”

Duffy further stated, “This poses a direct threat to the safety of families on the road, and I am against it. Today’s actions will prevent unsafe foreign drivers from renewing their licenses and ensure that improperly issued licenses are immediately invalidated.”