A three-day federal operation resulted in the detention or arrest of 137 individuals across four Midwestern states as part of the second phase of Operation Highway Shield. This joint initiative by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) targets truck drivers who are either unqualified or have irregular immigration status.
The operation was conducted from July 28 to July 30 in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio, involving agents from the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division of ICE, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and state highway patrols.
Among the 137 individuals detained, 51 were undocumented immigrants. This includes 21 drivers holding non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) issued by California and New York to individuals not residing in those states, a practice deemed irregular by the federal government.
The remaining 86 were arrested for dangerous behavior, including road rage incidents and domestic violence.
In addition to the arrests, the operation removed 766 unsafe drivers and vehicles from the roads, issued 36 violations for failing English proficiency tests, and recovered nearly one million dollars in stolen cargo.
Preliminary results were announced this Tuesday by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
"When illegal immigrants are behind the wheel of 18-wheelers, they endanger American lives," Mullin stated, emphasizing that over 800 dangerous truckers have been removed from the nation's roads through both phases of the operation.
Duffy issued a stern warning: "If you continue to illegally operate a cargo truck, your days on America's streets are numbered."
This second phase follows the first, which took place in Florida from March 23 to March 26, 2026. It involved over 3,300 commercial vehicle inspections, 35 criminal arrests, and 42 immigration actions.
In July, the DHS and DOT also announced a specific partnership to investigate fraud in CDL schools.
The Cuban community in the United States, significantly represented in the freight transport industry, has felt the impact of these operations.
In September 2025, a Cuban truck driver was detained in Oklahoma during a joint ICE and state highway patrol raid that resulted in the arrest of over 120 undocumented immigrants, 91 of whom held CDLs.
Months later, in December 2025, a legally residing Cuban truck driver warned the community about ICE checks on I-75, stressing the importance of carrying a green card: "If I hadn't had this today, I would have been detained."
The tightening of controls in the freight transport sector is partly in response to high-profile fatal accidents involving truckers with irregular status. This led the DOT in September 2025 to restrict CDL eligibility for non-citizens to holders of H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 visas, with a maximum validity of one year and mandatory immigration verification in federal databases.
FAQs on Truck Driver Detentions in the Midwest Operation
What was the primary goal of Operation Highway Shield?
The primary goal of Operation Highway Shield was to target and remove unqualified truck drivers or those with irregular immigration status from the roads, enhancing safety for all road users.
How many truck drivers were found with irregular immigration status?
Out of the 137 individuals detained, 51 were found to have irregular immigration status.
What actions were taken against unsafe drivers and vehicles?
The operation removed 766 unsafe drivers and vehicles from the roads and issued 36 violations for failing English proficiency tests.