Secretary Noem Highlights More than 140 Illegal Alien Truck Drivers Arrested During Operation Midway Blitz

The top three states issuing the CDLs were Illinois, California, and New York

WASHINGTON — Today, Secretary Kristi Noem announced that a successful 287(g) operation with the Indiana State Police has resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens on Indiana highways near the Illinois state line—including 146 truck drivers. This operation took place in Northwest Indiana and is part of Chicago-based Operation Midway Blitz.  

Criminal activity associated with the 223 illegal aliens arrested during this effort includes: 

• Driving Under the Influence  
• Drug Trafficking  
• Theft
• Burglary  
• Assault  
• Child Abuse
• Domestic Battery
• Prostitution  
• Fraud 

Over 40 drivers had been issued Commercial Drivers Licenses. The tops states that issued these Commercial Drivers Licenses to the illegal aliens were Illinois, California, and New York. Some of the Commercial Drivers Licenses of illegal aliens arrested in the operation are below:

“Far too many innocent Americans have been killed by illegal aliens driving semi-trucks and big rigs. And yet, sanctuary states around the country have been issuing illegal aliens commercial driver’s licenses. The Trump Administration is ending the chaos,” said Secretary Noem. “Thanks to President Trump, Operation Midway Blitz has already removed over 140 illegal alien truck drivers in Indiana. The brave men and women of ICE and the Indiana State Police are working nonstop to get criminal illegal aliens out of our communities and off our roads."

“Indiana is the Crossroads of America, and that’s something we’re proud of — but it also means we must stay vigilant about those using our interstates for crime and thus endangering our communities,” said Governor Mike Braun. “The safety of our state is our top priority, and we’ll keep working with our federal partners to keep Hoosiers — and Americans — safe.”

“ICE launched operation Midway Blitz to remove illegal alien threats to public safety, which is exactly what we have done in Chicago. We recognized from the start that this must include protecting roadways carrying interstate traffic and cargo. Sanctuary policies like those in Illinois sadly don’t recognize borders, and ICE and the Indiana State Police have successfully arrested hundreds of illegal alien truck drivers who should not be operating on our highways," said ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons. "In recent weeks, we have seen illegal semi-truck drivers responsible for significant loss of life across the country. This was preventable, and that is precisely why we are working to ensure this doesn’t happen in Indiana or Illinois.”

“This operation wouldn’t have been as successful as it was without our strong 287(g) partnership with the Indiana State Police. Protecting communities from criminal illegal aliens also includes those posing safety threats on our interstates," said ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan. "When cities and states partner with us, communities are safer, and as this operation has proven, our efforts in Indiana extend protection to those living in the sanctuary state of Illinois as well.”

In recent months, we’ve seen a disturbing pattern of criminal illegal aliens driving commercial vehicles on American roads, directly threatening public safety and resulting in senseless loss of life.

In August, ICE lodged an arrest detainer for a criminal illegal alien—Harjinder Singh— following his arrest for three counts of vehicular homicide while driving a semi-truck in Florida.

Last week, ICE lodged an arrest detainer for a criminal illegal alien—Jashanpreet Singh—who killed three people in California while driving an 18-wheeler under the influence.

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