ICE and Indiana State Police Conduct Arrests
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) collaborated with the Indiana State Police to detain over 145 undocumented immigrants operating semi-trucks, with more than 40 of them holding Commercial Driver’s Licenses.
Recent Arrests Announced by DHS Secretary
On Thursday, Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced that over 220 undocumented immigrants were apprehended on Indiana’s highways in recent weeks, thanks to the ICE’s 287(g) partnership with local police.
Details of the Detained Semi-Truck Drivers
Among the arrests, 146 undocumented immigrants were found driving semi-trucks, and over 40 had been granted Commercial Driver’s Licenses. The states that issued the highest number of these licenses included Illinois, California, and New York, all recognized as sanctuary states.
Concerns Raised by Secretary Noem
“Too many innocent Americans have suffered due to illegal aliens operating semi-trucks and large vehicles,” stated Noem. She emphasized that sanctuary states are allowing illegal immigrants to receive commercial driving licenses.
Operation Midway Blitz Targets Dangerous Drivers
Some of the individuals arrested in this operation, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, had previous convictions for serious offenses including drunk driving, drug trafficking, theft, burglary, assault, child abuse, domestic violence, prostitution, and fraud.
ICE’s Focus on Criminal Undocumented Immigrants
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons noted that Operation Midway Blitz specifically aims to target undocumented immigrants with serious criminal histories, particularly in the sanctuary state of Illinois.
Impact of Sanctuary Policies on Public Safety
Lyons commented, “Sanctuary policies, like those in Illinois, overlook borders, leading to successful arrests of hundreds of illegal alien truck drivers who should not be on our highways.” He added, “We have observed illegal semi-truck drivers causing significant fatalities nationwide, and we are working to prevent such tragedies in Indiana and Illinois.”
