ICE Arrests 223 Illegal Aliens in Indiana Highway Operation, 146 Were Truck Drivers
Dec. 16, 2025Secretary Kristi Noem announced that a joint 287(g) operation between ICE and the Indiana State Police resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens along Indiana highways near the Illinois border, including 146 truck drivers. The operation, conducted in Northwest Indiana as part of Chicago-based Operation Midway Blitz, targeted individuals involved in offenses including DUI, drug trafficking, burglary, assault, child abuse, domestic battery, prostitution, and fraud. More than 40 of those arrested had been issued commercial driver’s licenses, primarily from Illinois, California, and New York.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also conducted roadside enforcement actions in multiple states, including New York, detaining drivers holding valid commercial licenses issued by other states. Federal and state officials said these operations were intended to address public safety risks associated with illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles and cited recent fatal crashes as justification for coordinated enforcement, particularly in and around sanctuary jurisdictions.
The enforcement actions followed federal audits that identified widespread CDL fraud and improper issuance practices across multiple states. Federal officials estimate that as many as 130,000 undocumented truck drivers may be operating in the United States, with tens of thousands believed to have obtained licenses through illegitimate means.
The Trump administration has threatened to withhold highway funding from states that fail to comply with federal audits and revoke licenses issued under questionable circumstances. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that New York could lose up to $73 million in federal highway funding if the state fails to address audit findings within 30 days. Similar funding threats have been directed at California at $160 million, Texas at $182 million, and Minnesota at $30 million.
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