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The Trump administration disclosed results Tuesday from Operation Highway Shield, a Department of Transportation initiative targeting illegal immigration within the trucking sector. The enforcement operation, which launched in Florida earlier this year, has since expanded to include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio, according to reporting from Fox News.
A total of 3,487 enforcement stops yielded substantial results, including the removal of 766 unsafe commercial vehicles or drivers from service. Officials also documented 51 immigration detentions, 47 criminal charges filed, 39 incarcerations and 36 violations related to English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers.
The operation also recovered three instances of cargo theft, reclaiming approximately $1 million in stolen freight during the enforcement effort. The Trump administration has signaled that combined immigration and commercial vehicle safety enforcement will remain a priority going forward.
Federal English language requirements for commercial drivers have been in place for years, officials emphasized. Derek Barrs, Federal Motor Carrier Safety administrator, stressed that proficiency in English represents a critical safety measure, as drivers must quickly comprehend road signs while operating vehicles at high speeds while transporting hundreds of tons of cargo.
Field enforcement in Florida earlier revealed significant compliance gaps, with state troopers reporting that approximately half of truckers at certain weigh stations fail to meet English proficiency standards. Video evidence showed drivers unable to identify or explain the meaning of basic road signs when questioned by enforcement officers.
The crackdown follows a series of fatal crashes nationwide involving drivers whom the Department of Homeland Security alleges were operating illegally in the United States or possessed commercial drivers’ licenses they should not have obtained.
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