President Donald Trump’s administration announced a focused effort to curb illegal immigration in the trucking industry. This initiative, led by the Department of Transportation (DOT), began with Operation Highway Shield in Florida and has expanded into several Midwest states such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio.
During the operation, officials conducted 3,487 enforcement stops resulting in the removal of 766 unsafe commercial vehicles or drivers from service. Additionally, the enforcement led to 51 immigration detentions, 47 criminal charges, 39 incarcerations, and 36 English Language Proficiency (ELP) violations. Three cargo thefts, totaling approximately $1 million in stolen goods, were also recovered.
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The Trump administration asserts the importance of federal immigration and commercial driving enforcement. According to reports, up to half of the truckers at some Florida weigh stations failed to meet English proficiency requirements.
Master Trooper Craig Lents emphasized the safety concerns, noting that drivers need to read road signs quickly when traveling at high speeds. In one video encounter, a trooper questioned a trucker about a sign’s interpretation, which the trucker failed to answer.
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Authorities warn that the inability to understand English can be highly dangerous, particularly when truckers drive past critical road signs while transporting large quantities of freight. Derek Barrs, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator, highlighted that the English proficiency law aims to ensure drivers respond appropriately to traffic changes or road incidents.
The crackdown occurred amidst a series of fatal crashes involving drivers purportedly in the U.S. illegally or possessing illegitimate commercial driver’s licenses.
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Alexis McAdams, a correspondent based in New York City, joined Fox News in October 2021.