ICE arrested more than 100 illegal alien truck drivers in California’s Operation Highway Sentinel following deadly crashes tied to state-issued CDLs. (Department of Homeland Security)
"ICE is stepping in where his state failed," Sheahan added. "Just like our operations in Oklahoma and Indiana, we are taking these dangerous illegal alien truckers off the roads and making California streets safe again."
ICE said in a press release that Operation Highway Sentinel was launched in direct response to growing concerns that criminal illegal aliens driving commercial vehicles on U.S. roads cause multiple fatal accidents in states like California, Florida and Oregon, claiming "eight innocent lives."
ICE arrested more than 100 illegal alien truck drivers in California’s Operation Highway Sentinel following deadly crashes tied to state-issued CDLs. (Department of Homeland Security)
The latest operation in California targeted trucking companies in central and northern portions of the state that were suspected of engaging in criminal activity, ICE said.
ICE also said the trucking industry is known by law enforcement to involve criminal organizations engaged in human smuggling, labor trafficking, narcotics trafficking and cargo theft, among other things.
Of the 101 illegal alien truck drivers arrested during the operation, all will be held by ICE pending immigration proceedings.
ICE arrested more than 100 illegal alien truck drivers in California’s Operation Highway Sentinel following deadly crashes tied to state-issued CDLs. (Department of Homeland Security)
Earlier this year, an Indian national who was issued a CDL by California allegedly killed a carload of people after attempting to make an illegal U-turn on a highway in Florida.
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The Florida Attorney General’s Office said in October that the driver, Harjinder Singh, failed his CDL test 10 times in two months before finally receiving a license in 2023 in Washington State.
The Washington company that trained Singh for his CDL attested that he could speak English, even though he struggled to speak it proficiently, the senior official said. Still, Washington issued Singh his first CDL, and California later granted him another.
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Officials investigating the wreck in Florida said Singh failed English and road sign tests. He's accused of jackknifing his 18-wheeler during an illegal U-turn, causing a van to smash into the side of the semi, leaving three people dead.
The Florida AG’s office has since sued California and Washington in a Supreme Court filing to prevent both states from issuing CDLs to illegal immigrants. The lawsuit accuses the states of failing to comply with federal safety and immigration status requirements.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
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