In yet another major move that shows the Trump Administration is following through on its campaign pledge to crack down on illegal immigration and work hard to make life and work better for Americans, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has led a campaign against illegal alien truck drivers in Northwest Indiana, capturing nearly 150 in that area alone.
As background, the matter of illegal alien truck drivers has risen to particular prominence in the wake of an illegal alien killing three in a horrific, entirely preventable DUI crash after having been licensed as a commercial truck driver by the blue states of California and Washington. The deaths caused by that preventable crash have led to howling demands for tougher reprisals.
The Secretary Kristi Noem-led DHS announced as much in a press release put out on Thursday, October 30, saying, “Today, Secretary Kristi Noem announced that a successful 287(g) operation with the Indiana State Police has resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens on Indiana highways near the Illinois state line—including 146 truck drivers. This operation took place in Northwest Indiana and is part of Chicago-based Operation Midway Blitz.”
Adding to that, the DHS press release noted that nearly four dozen of those arrested had been illegally issued CDLs by blue states, much like the killer of three, saying, “Over 40 drivers had been issued Commercial Drivers Licenses. The tops [sic] states that issued these Commercial Drivers Licenses to the illegal aliens were Illinois, California, and New York.”
Providing somewhat more details in a press release of its own, ICE explained, “Many of the illegal aliens’ CDLs were from states with sanctuary policies, including California, Illinois and New York. Of the 46 truck drivers detained as illegal aliens, 10 had a type of CDL that has been subject to abuse in some states. The Trump administration has pushed states to stop issuing CDLs to illegal aliens.”
Further, it explained that the point of the crackdown is to make the roads safe again, saying, “The operation in Indiana, focused on immigration enforcement, has been aimed specifically at improving safety on the Hoosier State’s busy highways, where innocent people’s lives can be put in jeopardy by drivers who aren’t properly licensed or qualified.”
Noting that illegal alien-caused deadly DUI crashes are the problem that began this sweep, which is fittingly targeting such people, ICE then provided, “The sweep in Indiana is part of Operation Midway Blitz, a Department of Homeland Security initiative targeting criminal illegal aliens in the Chicago area. It’s named in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a hit-and-run by a drunk driver who was an illegal alien. So far, at least 12 illegal alien drivers and passengers arrested on Indiana highways have had criminal histories, including for DWI, drug dealing, theft, burglary, assault, child abuse, domestic battery, prostitution and fraud. The Indiana initiative is based on a partnership between ICE and the Indiana State Police.”
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Watch DHS Secretary Noem comment on the operation here:
JUST IN: Kristi Noem announced that as part of Operation Midway Blitz in Indiana, ICE arrested 223 illegals.
These arrests include 47 semi-truck drivers and another 82 who drove box trucks, buses, and moving vans.
Their CDLs were issued primarily in states such as California,… pic.twitter.com/FowVTmdiyl
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 30, 2025
Additionally, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem commented on the matter in a statement for the press release, saying, “Far too many innocent Americans have been killed by illegal aliens driving semi-trucks and big rigs. And yet, sanctuary states around the country have been issuing illegal aliens commercial driver’s licenses. The Trump Administration is ending the chaos.”
Continuing, she explained the hugely successful scale of the operation, noting, “Thanks to President Trump, Operation Midway Blitz has already removed over 140 illegal alien truck drivers in Indiana. The brave men and women of ICE and the Indiana State Police are working nonstop to get criminal illegal aliens out of our communities and off our roads.”
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, for his part, explained the purpose of these sorts of operations, noting, “ICE launched operation Midway Blitz to remove illegal alien threats to public safety, which is exactly what we have done in Chicago. We recognized from the start that this must include protecting roadways carrying interstate traffic and cargo. Sanctuary policies like those in Illinois sadly don’t recognize borders, and ICE and the Indiana State Police have successfully arrested hundreds of illegal alien truck drivers who should not be operating on our highways.”
Additionally, he explained that the significant losses of life seen around America because of these drivers are intolerable, saying, “In recent weeks, we have seen illegal semi-truck drivers responsible for significant loss of life across the country. This was preventable, and that is precisely why we are working to ensure this doesn’t happen in Indiana or Illinois.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video