How ICE Enforcement Is Removing Dangerous Truck Drivers from Texas Highways

Federal immigration enforcement is removing dangerous truck drivers from Texas highways. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested over 300 illegal immigrant commercial drivers during the fall of 2025 through targeted enforcement operations. These drivers operated 80,000-pound vehicles with fraudulent credentials, failed qualification testing, and no legal authorization to work in the United States. Partnerships between federal authorities and state police agencies identify and remove unqualified truckers before they cause fatal crashes on Texas roadways.

287(g) Partnerships Enable State Enforcement

The 287(g) program authorizes state and local law enforcement agencies to perform immigration enforcement functions. Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to delegate immigration authority to trained state officers. These partnerships enable state troopers to identify illegal immigrants during routine traffic stops and commercial vehicle inspections.

Oklahoma became one of the most aggressive states using the 287(g) authority to target illegal immigrant truck drivers. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol partnered with ICE to conduct commercial vehicle enforcement operations along Interstate 40. Troopers conducting routine safety inspections identify drivers with questionable credentials and verify immigration status through federal databases.

Indiana established similar partnerships enabling state police to work with federal authorities on commercial driver enforcement. The Indiana State Police 287(g) program facilitated Operation Midway Blitz, which removed over 140 illegal immigrant truck drivers from highways during October 2025. These partnerships protect neighboring states by removing dangerous drivers from interstate commerce routes.

Texas benefits from enforcement operations in partner states even without participating directly. Commercial drivers arrested in Oklahoma or Indiana were traveling through Texas regularly on major interstate routes. Removing these drivers from the national highway system protects San Antonio families from crashes caused by unqualified operators.

Operation Guardian Targets I-40 Commercial Traffic

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt launched Operation Guardian to remove illegal immigrants and protect public safety. The three-day enforcement operation along Interstate 40 in September 2025 resulted in 125 arrests of illegal immigrants. Many detainees were commercial truck drivers operating with licenses issued by sanctuary states.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol encountered numerous drivers holding commercial licenses from New York, California, and Illinois. One driver possessed a New York credential listing “No Name Given” as his legal identity. The REAL ID-compliant license demonstrated how sanctuary states issue federal security credentials to individuals with unverified identities.

Arrested drivers came from India, China, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Mauritania. These individuals operated commercial vehicles nationwide despite lacking legal authorization to work in the United States. Operation Guardian removed them from highways before they could cause crashes that kill innocent families.

Interstate 40 connects California to North Carolina and passes through the Texas Panhandle. Commercial drivers arrested on I-40 in Oklahoma regularly travel through Texas on routes connecting western and eastern states. Their removal protects Texas motorists from crashes caused by unqualified operators with fraudulent credentials.

Operation Midway Blitz Removes 140 Truck Drivers

Operation Midway Blitz targeted commercial vehicle traffic in and around Chicago during October 2025. The operation resulted in arrest of over 140 illegal immigrant truck drivers during its first phase. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that far too many innocent Americans have been killed by illegal immigrants driving commercial trucks.

Indiana sits at the crossroads of America, where multiple interstate highways converge. Interstate 80, Interstate 90, and Interstate 65 carry enormous commercial traffic through the state. Many arrested drivers possessed commercial licenses from Illinois, a sanctuary state that issues credentials without verifying citizenship or legal status.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons stated that sanctuary policies like those in Illinois do not recognize borders. Commercial drivers with fraudulent Illinois licenses operate throughout neighboring states. Federal enforcement in Indiana protects residents of surrounding states by removing dangerous drivers from interstate commerce.

The operation demonstrated that the issuance of commercial licenses to illegal immigrants in one state creates dangers across the entire nation. Drivers licensed in Illinois or California travel through Texas regularly. Their fraudulent credentials enable nationwide operation until federal authorities intervene.

Protecting Families from Preventable Tragedies

Federal enforcement operations prevent crashes that kill innocent families. Harjinder Singh killed three people on the Florida Turnpike in August 2025 when he attempted an illegal U-turn. Singh obtained a California commercial license despite failing English proficiency testing and having an illegal immigration status. His crash demonstrates exactly why enforcement operations are essential.

Marcus Coleman spoke out after an illegal immigrant truck driver caused a multi-vehicle crash in California that left his five-year-old daughter, Dalilah, with critical, life-altering injuries.DHS emphasized that law enforcement works every day to prevent another senseless tragedy from occurring in another town or another family.

These preventable tragedies occur because sanctuary states issue commercial credentials to unqualified drivers. Every illegal immigrant truck driver removed from highways represents potential crashes avoided and lives saved. Federal enforcement protects Texas families from drivers who should never have been operating commercial vehicles.

Federal Criticism of Sanctuary State Policies

DHS officials harshly criticized sanctuary states for issuing commercial licenses without verifying citizenship or qualifications correctly. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that allowing illegal immigrants to obtain credentials to operate 18-wheelers and transport hazardous materials is reckless and incredibly dangerous to public safety.

New York faced particular criticism for issuing a commercial license to a driver whose name was listed as “No Name Given.” McLaughlin emphasized that New York failed to check if applicants were U.S. citizens and even failed to obtain the full legal names of individuals receiving commercial credentials. These verification failures endanger everyone when unqualified drivers operate throughout the nation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires commercial drivers to meet strict qualification standards. States that issue credentials without proper verification undermine federal safety regulations and create nationwide dangers. Political ideology cannot justify public safety risks from fraudulent licensing.

Continued Enforcement Operations

Federal authorities pledged to continue enforcement operations targeting illegal immigrant truck drivers. DHS works with state and local partners to remove unqualified drivers who often lack knowledge of basic traffic laws. Partnerships with states maintaining 287(g) programs enable efficient identification and removal of dangerous operators.

Additional operations are planned for major commercial corridors throughout the nation. Interstate routes carrying heavy truck traffic receive priority attention. Federal authorities recognize that illegal immigrant truckers travel nationwide, and enforcement must occur wherever dangerous drivers operate.

What This Means for Texas Truck Accident Victims

Federal enforcement operations reveal systematic problems in commercial trucking. Companies knowingly hire illegal immigrant drivers with questionable credentials to reduce labor costs. These carriers prioritize profits over safety, endangering Texas families. When crashes occur, the evidence from the enforcement operation supports substantial damage claims.

Texas accident victims injured by drivers with fraudulent credentials have strong cases against trucking companies. Evidence that drivers were arrested in federal operations establishes that they were unqualified and should never have been hired. Companies that employed these drivers violated federal regulations requiring verification of driver qualifications.

Driver qualification files obtained through litigation often reveal obvious red flags that companies ignored. Sanctuary-state licenses from New York, California, or Illinois warrant scrutiny because verification failures in these jurisdictions are well-documented. Companies that accept questionable credentials without investigation demonstrate negligence.

Contact Experienced Texas Truck Accident Attorneys

If an illegal immigrant truck driver injured you in Texas, contact experienced attorneys immediately. Recent federal enforcement operations have exposed widespread problems with fraudulent licensing and negligent hiring. You deserve attorneys who understand how to prove corporate liability when companies hire unqualified drivers with questionable credentials.

Call today for a free consultation about your truck accident case. Texas law holds trucking companies accountable when they prioritize cheap labor over public safety and place dangerous drivers behind the wheel of 80,000-pound commercial vehicles on Texas highways.