U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just slammed the brakes on a dangerous trend with a major crackdown in California.
Through Operation Highway Sentinel, ICE arrested more than 100 unauthorized migrant truck drivers on California highways, targeting a troubling pattern of deadly crashes tied to state-issued commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) under controversial policies, Fox News reported.
This operation didn’t come out of nowhere—it was sparked by a string of fatal accidents across multiple states, all involving drivers who got their CDLs in California despite questionable qualifications.
ICE zeroed in on trucking companies in central and northern California, areas suspected of shady dealings that go beyond just bad driving.
Officials point out that the trucking world often intersects with serious crimes like human smuggling, labor trafficking, and narcotics distribution, making this sweep about more than just traffic safety.
Among those detained were individuals from nations including India, Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, showing the global reach of this issue on American roads.
One high-profile case in Florida underscored the stakes, where an Indian national, Harjinder Singh, allegedly caused a crash that killed three people while making an illegal maneuver.
Singh reportedly flunked his CDL test 10 times in just two months before finally passing in Washington State, then snagged another license in California—despite failing English and road sign comprehension tests.
Now, Florida’s Attorney General is taking aim at both California and Washington with a Supreme Court filing, arguing their lax CDL policies for unauthorized migrants violate federal safety and immigration standards.
ICE isn’t mincing words about who they hold responsible, with Deputy Director Madison Sheahan pointing a finger at California Governor Gavin Newsom’s sanctuary state approach.
“Gavin Newsom’s sanctuary state policies are costing American lives,” Sheahan declared. “His government knowingly issued thousands of CDLs to illegal aliens who had no business driving at all, let alone behind the wheel of a massive semi-truck.”
Sheahan’s critique cuts deep, suggesting that progressive agendas prioritizing access over accountability have turned highways into hazard zones—and it’s hard to argue when the body count keeps climbing.
ICE also emphasized that many of these drivers can’t read English or understand road signs, a terrifying thought when you’re sharing the interstate with an 80,000-pound rig.
“ICE is stepping in where his state failed,” Sheahan added, promising that operations like this one in California—mirroring past sweeps in Indiana and Oklahoma—will keep dangerous drivers off the roads.
With 101 drivers now held pending immigration proceedings, and prior operations netting over 200 similar arrests in other states, it’s clear federal authorities are done playing catch-up with policies they see as reckless—though some might wonder if the root causes, like labor shortages, are being ignored in favor of enforcement spectacle.
