Homeland Security Cracks Down on Undocumented Truck Drivers

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy is working with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem after announcing that over 220 undocumented immigrant drivers have been arrested under Operation Midway Blitz, with about 25% being commercial truck drivers licensed in sanctuary states like California, Illinois, and New York, many with criminal records, including child cruelty and DUI with drugs. Noem warned that illegal drivers endanger citizens and face imminent consequences; the crackdown follows a fatal Florida crash by an undocumented driver, prompting Secretary Duffy to enforce a new rule under a Trump executive order requiring English proficiency for truckers, targeting rogue licensing mills and employing companies to enhance highway safety.

From Spectrum News: 

Noem said Thursday that of the 3,000 total arrests so far through Operation Midway Blitz, many of the individuals had criminal records. She said an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who had been convicted of felony cruelty toward a child was also in possession of a fraudulent driver’s license, and that an undocumented individual from Nicaragua was arrested for driving under the influence and transporting drugs.

"We are using every tool that we have in our toolbox to make sure states comply," Duffy said at a news conference in Washington on Thursday, where he announced new enforcement actions.

He said the FMCSA will pursue so-called "mills" for commercial driver's licenses that are issuing them to unqualified drivers throughout the country, as well as the companies that employ illegally licensed drivers.

"I don't have a massive law enforcement wing like ICE does," he said. "That's why I'm grateful for Secretary Noem for not only bringing attention to this matter but actually using ICE agents to go out and make sure that we have compliance with some of our laws that are on the books from DOT." 

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