Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem revealed the arrest of “223 illegal aliens on Indiana highways near the Illinois state line,” including 146 truck drivers. Among those detained were 46 semi-truck operators and 82 individuals driving box trucks, buses, or moving vans. Noem emphasized that the commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to these individuals originated from over a dozen states, with the top three sources being Illinois, California, and New York.

The arrests were part of Operation Midway Blitz, a Trump-era initiative targeting “criminal illegal aliens terrorizing Americans in sanctuary Illinois.” The operation was launched last month following the death of Katie Abraham, allegedly caused by Julio Cucul-Bol, an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant involved in a drunk driving hit-and-run. Noem stated that the effort aimed to address threats posed by individuals operating heavy vehicles without proper training or language proficiency.

Indiana State Police Secretary Anthony Scott highlighted public safety concerns, noting that 80,000-pound trucks driven by untrained individuals pose significant risks. Recent incidents, including a Florida crash involving Harjinder Singh—a truck driver with no English proficiency who failed his CDL test 10 times before receiving a license in Washington state—have fueled scrutiny over CDL issuance to undocumented immigrants. Another semi-truck driver in California was implicated in a recent fatal crash.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun praised the operation, stating that Indiana’s role as a transportation hub necessitates vigilance against criminal activity on its highways. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons reiterated the focus on removing “illegal alien threats” and cited the Trump administration’s efforts to end what he called “chaos.” Noem noted that of the 3,000 arrests under Operation Midway Blitz, many individuals had criminal records, including an undocumented Mexican man convicted of child cruelty and a Nicaraguan national arrested for drug possession and drunk driving.

The enforcement of English language requirements for commercial drivers, reinstated in May after years of lax oversight, has been framed as critical to safety. The policy, tied to an executive order from former President Donald Trump, aims to prevent non-English speakers from operating vehicles on U.S. roads.