Authorities Arrest Nearly 250 Foreign Truck Drivers Amid Security Concerns

Federal and state authorities have arrested approximately 250 foreign commercial truck drivers as part of a nationwide crackdown aimed at addressing national security concerns and the integrity of the U.S. commercial driver licensing system. This operation, which intensified in November 2023, follows warnings that criminal organizations, including cartel operatives, are exploiting the licensing system to infiltrate freight corridors, raising alarms about potential risks to national security.

The crackdown specifically targeted foreign drivers holding Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL). Operations took place across various states, including Arizona, Indiana, Texas, California, and more. Federal agencies, under directives from President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, initiated these arrests to remove potentially dangerous drivers from U.S. highways.

Authorities reported a significant number of those arrested were unlawfully present in the United States, further highlighting ongoing concerns about border security. In one notable incident, an Uzbekistani national operating a commercial vehicle caused a crash in Arizona, prompting further scrutiny of foreign drivers’ presence on American roads.

In Indiana, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the detention of 146 truck drivers following a fatal accident involving a foreign CDL holder, igniting public outrage regarding the safety and vetting of commercial drivers. Investigations revealed that cartel networks are using vulnerabilities in the CDL system to facilitate the movement of contraband and operatives across state lines.

Operation Safe Haul, conducted in Wyoming between November 18th and 20th, resulted in 40 arrests and the removal of numerous trucks from the roads due to severe safety violations, including non-functional brakes and falsified documents. Officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expressed concerns that foreign nationals operating large trucks without proper vetting pose direct threats to homeland security.

The crackdown also extended to Texas, where 31 drivers were arrested along I-40 in Wheeler County. Many of these individuals were found to hold California-issued CDLs while lacking legal residency. Governor Greg Abbott criticized California’s licensing policies, asserting that they allow cartel operatives to operate in Texas without sufficient scrutiny.

Similar actions were taken in New York, where 30 drivers were detained on the Thruway near Buffalo, with officials characterizing these arrests as indicative of a potential national security breach. High-profile arrests in Kansas and California included individuals linked to ongoing terrorism investigations, further underscoring the potential security risks associated with foreign drivers in the trucking industry.

This crackdown is part of a broader strategy aimed at deporting up to 200,000 foreign CDL holders from the trucking sector. Leaders within the Department of Homeland Security argue that cartel networks and hostile actors could weaponize heavy trucks or use them for smuggling operations across critical freight corridors.

A significant arrest involved Akhror Bozorov, an Uzbek national with connections to a known terrorist organization. Bozorov, who was apprehended while operating a commercial vehicle with a Pennsylvania-issued CDL, had entered the U.S. illegally in February 2023 and was previously released by the Biden administration. According to Tricia McLaughlin from DHS, it is unacceptable for individuals with ties to terrorism to operate commercial vehicles in the United States.

Another Uzbek national was arrested following a crash near Quartzsite, Arizona. This driver possessed five different licenses and had entered the U.S. illegally during a period of heightened border crossings.

As the crackdown on illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles continues, Texas Governor Abbott emphasized the state’s commitment to ensuring road safety and protecting communities by collaborating with federal partners to apprehend illegal immigrants. Law enforcement agencies are prioritizing this issue, reflecting a growing concern for both public safety and national security.