ICE arrests 100+ illegal alien truck drivers in California operation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested more than 100 illegal alien truck drivers on California highways as part of Operation Highway Sentinel, launched after a series of fatal crashes linked to commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued under Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies.

Federal officials said the sweep was launched following a spate of fatal crashes in multiple states involving illegal alien truck drivers licensed in California, underscoring growing concerns that the state’s commercial licensing policies are putting drivers across the country at risk.

Those arrested included illegal aliens from India, Mexico, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Nicaragua, Russia, Georgia, Venezuela, El Salvador and Honduras.

“Gavin Newsom’s sanctuary state policies are costing American lives,” said ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan. “The government knowingly issued thousands of CDLs to illegal aliens who had no interest in driving a car, let alone behind the wheel of a massive semi. These drivers get their licenses, leave California, and then terrorize roads across the country.”

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“ICE is stepping where the state has failed,” Sheahan added. “Just like our operations in Oklahoma and Indiana, we are removing these dangerous illegal alien truckers from the roads and making California streets safe again.”

ICE said in a press release that Operation Highway Watch was launched in direct response to growing concerns that criminal illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles on U.S. roads are causing multiple fatal crashes in states such as California, Florida and Oregon, claiming “eight innocent lives.”

In Operation Highway Sentinel in California, ICE arrested more than 100 illegal alien truck drivers following fatal crashes tied to state-issued CDLs. (Department of Homeland Security)

The agency accused Newsom-led California of issuing thousands of CDLs to illegal aliens, some of whom could not read English or understand road signs.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.

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Similar operations targeting illegal aliens have also been conducted in Indiana, New York, and Oklahoma, resulting in the arrests of more than 200 illegal immigrant truck drivers who were issued CDLs.

“This week, HSI, along with our partners, conducted enforcement operations targeting illegal alien commercial truck drivers in California’s Central Valley in the interest of public safety,” said Tatum King, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco. he said. “Following a spate of fatal motor vehicle crashes involving illegal aliens working as commercial truck drivers, federal law enforcement is taking action to prevent further tragedies.”

In Operation Highway Sentinel in California, ICE arrested more than 100 illegal alien truck drivers following fatal crashes tied to state-issued CDLs. (Department of Homeland Security)

ICE said the latest operation in California targeted trucking companies suspected of criminal activity in the central and northern parts of the state.

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ICE also said the trucking industry is known to law enforcement to include criminal organizations engaged in human trafficking, labor trafficking, narcotics trafficking and cargo theft, among other things.

All 101 illegal alien truck drivers arrested during the operation will be held by ICE while their immigration proceedings are ongoing.

In Operation Highway Sentinel in California, ICE arrested more than 100 illegal alien truck drivers following fatal crashes tied to state-issued CDLs. (Department of Homeland Security)

Earlier this year, an Indian national issued a CDL by California allegedly killed a carload of people after trying to make an illegal U-turn on a highway in Florida.

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The driver, Harjinder Singh, failed his CDL test 10 times in two months before getting a license in Washington State in 2023, the Florida Attorney General’s Office said in October.

The senior official said the Washington company that trained Singh for his CDL confirmed that he could speak English, although he had difficulty speaking proficiently. Still, Washington gave Singh his first CDL, and California later gave him another.

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Authorities investigating the wreck in Florida said Singh failed English and road sign tests. He is accused of jacking his 18-wheeler during an illegal U-turn, causing it to crash into the side of a semi and kill three people.

The Florida AG’s office has since sued California and Washington in the Supreme Court to prevent both states from issuing CDLs to illegal immigrants. The lawsuit accuses the states of failing to comply with federal security and immigration status requirements.