The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended José Carlos Valdivia-Vera, a Cuban national residing illegally in the U.S., in Florida. He was working as a truck driver despite having an expired commercial driver's license and a final deportation order.
The arrest took place on August 6, executed by agents from the Jacksonville Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday.
Authorities revealed that Valdivia-Vera possessed a temporary commercial driver's license issued by Florida, valid for one year. However, this document had expired on June 6, two months prior to his arrest.
In addition, a definitive deportation order had been issued against him by an immigration judge from the Department of Justice.
The DHS did not specify when or how Valdivia-Vera entered the United States, confirming only that his presence in the country was unauthorized.
Following his arrest, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated that the Cuban national would be deported from the U.S., emphasizing that authorities would continue to target undocumented drivers and the companies employing them.
"Every time an undocumented immigrant gets behind the wheel of a truck, it endangers countless American lives," Mullin declared.
"Thanks to the diligent work of ICE agents, this undocumented Cuban immigrant, who possessed a commercial driver's license, is no longer on our roads. He will be deported and unable to jeopardize innocent lives on our streets," he added.
Mullin further assured, "We will relentlessly pursue all undocumented truck drivers and the businesses that hire them."
Crackdown on Undocumented Truck Drivers
This arrest is part of a broader initiative by the U.S. government to identify immigrants in violation of regulations driving commercial vehicles and to scrutinize potential licensing discrepancies.
In early August, the DHS announced the results of the second phase of Operation Road Shield, conducted in collaboration with the Department of Transportation.
Authorities stated that in just three days, over 800 commercial drivers were removed from the roads, including 51 undocumented immigrants.
Additionally, both agencies declared in July their intention to investigate commercial driving schools suspected of fraudulently facilitating the acquisition of licenses.
The DHS has linked the tightening of controls to several fatal accidents involving undocumented truck drivers, including a tragic incident in Pennsylvania in July 2026 that claimed the life of a state trooper, and a head-on collision in Indiana in February resulting in four fatalities.
Increasing Deportation Orders for Cubans in Florida
The arrest of Valdivia-Vera coincides with a rise in deportation orders against Cubans in Florida.
Between October 2025 and June 2026, immigration courts issued 4,007 removal orders against Cuban nationals in the state. In June alone, 1,642 orders were issued against Cubans across the United States, according to data from Syracuse University's TRAC system.
Arrests have also surged, with ICE increasing its detentions of Cuban migrants by 463% between late 2024 and early 2026.
Furthermore, DHS figures from November 2025 indicated that over 42,000 Cubans had final deportation orders pending execution in the United States.
The case of Valdivia-Vera highlights two priorities that immigration authorities have intensified in recent months: executing pending deportation orders and removing from the roads commercial drivers who do not meet immigration or legal requirements to perform such work.
FAQs on Undocumented Truck Drivers and Deportation
What led to the arrest of José Carlos Valdivia-Vera?
José Carlos Valdivia-Vera was arrested for working as a truck driver with an expired commercial license and a final deportation order against him.
What actions are being taken against undocumented truck drivers?
The U.S. government is actively targeting undocumented truck drivers and the companies that employ them, as part of broader efforts to enhance road safety and immigration enforcement.
How many Cuban nationals face deportation orders in Florida?
Between October 2025 and June 2026, 4,007 deportation orders were issued against Cuban nationals in Florida, reflecting a significant increase in enforcement actions.