ICE Arrests 223 Illegal Aliens During Indiana Highway Operation, Including 146 Truck Drivers

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 223 illegal aliens during a joint highway enforcement operation in Northwest Indiana, with 146 of those taken into custody identified as truck drivers, according to an announcement by Secretary Kristi Noem, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The enforcement action was conducted in coordination with the Indiana State Police under the federal 287(g) program and took place along major highways near the Illinois border as part of the Chicago-based Operation Midway Blitz.

Federal and state officials said the operation targeted individuals connected to a range of criminal offenses, including driving under the influence, drug trafficking, burglary, assault, child abuse, domestic battery, prostitution, and fraud.

Authorities reported that more than 40 of those arrested had been issued commercial driver’s licenses, primarily from Illinois, California, and New York.

ICE has also carried out roadside enforcement actions in several other states, including New York, where drivers holding valid commercial licenses issued by different states were detained.

Officials said the operations were designed to address public safety risks associated with illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles, particularly in and around sanctuary jurisdictions.

Recent fatal crashes involving commercial trucks were cited by federal and state authorities as a factor driving the coordinated enforcement actions.

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The Indiana arrests followed a series of federal audits that identified widespread fraud and improper issuance of commercial driver’s licenses across multiple states.

ICE Arrests 223 Illegal Aliens in Indiana Highway Operation, 146 Were Truck Drivers – The Gateway Pundit

Secretary Kristi Noem announced that a joint 287(g) operation between ICE and the Indiana State Police resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens along Indiana highways…

— USA Reference News (@USAReference) December 16, 2025

Federal officials estimate that as many as 130,000 undocumented truck drivers may currently be operating in the United States, with tens of thousands believed to have obtained licenses through illegitimate means.

The Trump administration has warned states that failure to comply with federal audits and revoke improperly issued licenses could result in the loss of federal highway funding.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said New York could lose up to $73 million in federal highway funds if it does not address audit findings within 30 days.

Similar funding threats have been issued to California, which faces a potential loss of $160 million, Texas, at $182 million, and Minnesota, at $30 million.

New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles rejected the allegations, stating that it complies with federal requirements and verifies lawful status using federally issued documents.

State officials characterized the potential funding cuts as political actions that do not improve road safety.

California has filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking the return of tens of millions of dollars in transportation funding that has been withheld.

The state argues the funding reductions are arbitrary and unlawful. In response to federal pressure, California has begun revoking 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses that were found to have been improperly issued.

Federal audits found that 53 percent of sampled non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses in New York were issued illegally.

In California, auditors determined that 25 percent of 145 non-domiciled licenses reviewed since June 2025 were improperly issued.

Additional audits identified similar practices in Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

Data show the issue has grown over decades. Between 2000 and 2021, the number of foreign-born truck drivers more than doubled, increasing from 316,000 to more than 720,000.

Bureau of Labor Statistics figures indicate immigrants accounted for roughly 18 to 20 percent of truck drivers in 2024. Industry sources, including FreightWaves, estimate the actual share may exceed 20 percent.

Immigrant drivers primarily originate from Central America and the Caribbean, followed by South America, with additional drivers from India, China, Poland, Ukraine, and other regions.

Federal investigations have also detailed extensive fraud tied to commercial licenses, including identity theft, bribery, counterfeit foreign licenses, and test-taking schemes.

Authorities say the Indiana arrests reflect a broader national effort to address those findings through coordinated enforcement.

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