ICE Arrests 91 Illegal Immigrant Truckers With Commercial Licenses From Blue States
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 91 illegal immigrants working as truck drivers in a multi-day operation along I-40 in western Oklahoma, many of whom carried commercial driver’s licenses issued by blue states like California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
The operation, conducted with assistance from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, revealed that most of the individuals entered the U.S. under President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, including “catch-and-release.” Among those apprehended was Firuz Khamidov, a 36-year-old Russian national who previously faced forgery charges in New York but avoided ICE custody due to Biden-era enforcement rules. He was driving an 18-wheeler with a CDL from Illinois at the time of his arrest.
ICE also arrested Uzbek national Javokhir Nizomiddin Ugli Kudratov, 28, who entered illegally through California in January and was found driving a semi with a Pennsylvania-issued non-domiciled CDL. Rajesh Kumar, a 37-year-old Indian national, was caught driving an 18-wheeler with a California CDL after crossing illegally through Arizona in April 2023. Another Indian national, Sukhdev Singh, 25, held a Nevada CDL and was arrested while operating a commercial truck. Georgian illegal immigrant Zaza Nutzubidze, 26, had a New Jersey CDL when he was taken into custody.
According to DHS, Indian nationals made up the largest group of arrestees, accounting for 39 of the 91 total. The arrests come in the wake of a deadly crash in Florida involving an Indian national who made an illegal U-turn with a tractor-trailer, killing three people — sparking renewed concern over foreign nationals operating massive commercial vehicles on American roads.
In response, the Trump administration has implemented a crackdown on the issuance of CDLs to illegal immigrants. The Department of Transportation, under Secretary Sean Duffy, launched an audit targeting states that issue licenses to non-citizens and reimposed an English-language requirement for commercial drivers.
“What our team has discovered should disturb and anger every American,” Duffy said. “Licenses to operate a massive, 80,000-pound truck are being issued to dangerous foreign drivers — oftentimes illegally. This is a direct threat to the safety of every family on the road.”
He added that improperly issued licenses will now be invalidated and that states found in violation will be held accountable immediately.