Texas and Trump team take down over 30 illegal alien truck drivers in 1 day — California licenses BUSTED



With increased national focus on the trucking industry, federal and state authorities are stepping up efforts to crack down on illegal truck drivers to address concerns about road safety and national security.

A one-day operation last week in Texas led to the apprehension of 31 illegal alien truck drivers, according to Republican Governor Greg Abbott's office.

'When illegal immigrants break the law and illegally drive on our roads, they endanger the lives of countless Texans and Americans.'

The joint commercial vehicle enforcement operation on November 11 in Wheeler County along I-40 involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the governor's office reported on Wednesday.

Law enforcement officers inspected 105 vehicles as part of an effort to identify suspicious commercial driver's licenses. DPS troopers referred 31 drivers to ICE after they were unable to verify their lawful presence in the U.S., despite presenting CDLs.

"It was determined that all 31 individuals were in the country illegally," the governor's office reported, noting that most of the licenses were issued by California, with none issued in Texas.

"Millions of Texans drive on our highways, roads, and streets every day," Abbott stated. "When illegal immigrants break the law and illegally drive on our roads, they endanger the lives of countless Texans and Americans."

RELATED: Trump DOT hammers Gov. Shapiro, threatens to pull millions after state hands CDL to 'suspected terrorist' illegal alien trucker

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

"This joint state and federal operation along one of the nation's longest transcontinental highways removed illegal drivers and unsafe vehicles from Texas roads," Abbott continued. "While liberal states like California issue licenses to illegal immigrants and risk the lives of Americans, Texas will work with our federal partners to maintain safe roads and apprehend illegal immigrants to protect our communities."

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has similarly launched efforts to remove illegal immigrant truckers from the roads.

RELATED: Oklahoma ICE sting busts 34 illegal alien truck drivers, others with rap sheets

Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

He provided an update in early November about Operation Guardian, which has also conducted enforcement along the I-40 corridor, noting that it has already resulted in the arrest of over 100 illegal alien truck drivers.

"For the second time in just the past month, the state of Oklahoma and ICE have banded together to bolster public safety along Oklahoma's highways, identifying and apprehending illegal aliens who are in the country illegally and have been recklessly issued a commercial driver's license by states like California, Illinois, and New Jersey," said Marcos Charles, the executive associate director for ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations. "Many of the illegal aliens arrested behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound tractor trailer can't even read basic English, endangering everyone they encounter on the roads."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The railroad that could unite — and revive — America



When America completed its first nationwide railway in 1869, it did more than link two coasts. It united a nation. Railroads carried goods, materials, and people across vast distances at unprecedented speed, sparking an economic boom that forged a stronger, more unified country.

A century and a half later, the United States faces a new test. Globalization, supply-chain fragility, and inflation have exposed how dependent America has become on foreign systems and vulnerable networks. To meet these challenges, the nation must again invest in its own strength — beginning with its railroads.

Trucking currently dominates US freight, providing flexibility but at a steep cost in lives and highway damage. Railroads, by contrast, build and maintain their own infrastructure.

The proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, announced in July, offers that opportunity. The combined company would create America’s first coast-to-coast rail network under a single U.S. carrier, spanning more than 50,000 route miles and linking 100 ports across 43 states.

A direct line to lower costs

A unified system means fewer handoffs between fragmented regional networks, faster delivery, and lower costs. Streamlined routes would eliminate the bureaucratic friction that slows commerce and adds uncertainty to shipping. For farmers, manufacturers, and consumers, that translates into stronger supply chains, lower prices, and renewed confidence in the American economy.

Trucking currently dominates U.S. freight, providing flexibility but at a steep cost. Federal data show that heavy trucks were involved in more than 150,000 crashes and 4,500 deaths in 2024. A single tractor-trailer inflicts the same highway damage as 9,600 cars — a massive public expense that taxpayers absorb.

Railroads, by contrast, build and maintain their own infrastructure. They reinvest billions each year without federal subsidies, move more goods with less fuel, and emit fewer pollutants. When uninterrupted by carrier transfers, rail shipping can be up to 60% more cost-efficient per ton than trucking.

A transcontinental system would amplify those advantages. Freight could move directly from origin to destination without costly delays. Lower transportation costs in agriculture, manufacturing, housing, and retail would ripple through the economy, easing inflation and boosting competitiveness for U.S. producers.

Strengthening American industry

The merger also complements the Trump administration’s effort to reshore manufacturing and rebuild domestic supply chains. With access to 100 ports and 10 international interchanges, a unified Union Pacific system would give U.S. manufacturers cheaper, more reliable routes for sourcing materials and delivering finished goods.

Expanded rail operations would also protect and grow good-paying union jobs in an industry that has powered America’s growth for more than a century. These are stable careers with benefits — the kind of work that anchors communities and sustains middle-class families.

Critics of rail mergers often warn of reduced competition or service quality. Those concerns deserve review. But in this case, the overlap between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern is minimal. Rather than suppressing competition, the merger would strengthen it by enabling U.S. carriers to compete more effectively against trucking, air freight, and Canadian railroads — which have enjoyed uninterrupted transcontinental systems for decades.

RELATED:Trucks destroy roads, but railroads — yes, rail! — can save taxpayers billions

Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

A historic chance to unite the nation again

When the first cross-country railroad opened in 1869, it helped knit together a divided nation, fueled commerce, and launched America into the industrial age. The proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger represents a similar moment of promise.

By creating the first true coast-to-coast rail network in U.S. history, this partnership could help reshore manufacturing, fortify supply chains, and make American transportation safer and more efficient.

Rebuilding American prosperity begins with reconnecting America itself. The next great chapter of that story could once again be written on steel rails.

Oklahoma ICE sting busts 34 illegal alien truck drivers, others with rap sheets



An immigration enforcement operation in Oklahoma resulted in dozens of arrests, including 34 illegal alien truck drivers, according to ICE.

'To lawfully operate a commercial motor vehicle in Oklahoma, you must be here legally and you must be able to understand English.'

The arrests announced earlier this week come amid concerns about road safety and national security related to an influx of foreign drivers entering the American trucking industry following the Biden administration's open-border policies. These concerns have intensified following several recent fatal crashes involving illegal alien truck drivers.

Operation Guardian, a two-day sweep along the I-40 eastern corridor in late October, led to the arrests of 70 illegal aliens. Among those detained were 26 individuals with CDLs and eight others who were operating commercial vehicles without valid licenses, ICE stated.

The operation involved ICE and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, as part of a 287(g) partnership. The agreement allows OHP troopers to enforce immigration violations.

"For the second time in just the past month, the state of Oklahoma and ICE have banded together to bolster public safety along Oklahoma's highways, identifying and apprehending illegal aliens who are in the country illegally and have been recklessly issued a commercial driver's license by states like California, Illinois, and New Jersey," stated Marcos Charles, the executive associate director of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations.

Many of those arrested who were operating commercial vehicles were not in compliance with English proficiency requirements, according to Charles.

RELATED: Beloved basketball coach, wife identified as victims of fatal crash allegedly caused by illegal alien truck driver

Photo by John Moore/Getty Images

Of the 70 illegal aliens nabbed by immigration officials, 36 reportedly had a prior criminal history with offenses that included assault and battery, soliciting prostitution, and DUI. Two illegal aliens were wanted overseas for fraud and burglary.

Those arrested originated from 15 different countries, including China, Colombia, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.

A similar September raid in Oklahoma resulted in the arrests of 120 illegal aliens, including 91 who were operating commercial vehicles.

RELATED: Truckers push back on driver-shortage ‘myth’ that has led to flood of foreigners in long-haul industry

Photographer: David Peinado/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Oklahoma's Department of Public Safety stated that the CDLs were issued to the illegal aliens by the following states: California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Minnesota, Ohio, and New York.

"Operation Guardian continues to successfully keep Oklahomans safe," Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) said. "To lawfully operate a commercial motor vehicle in Oklahoma, you must be here legally and you must be able to understand English. These are commonsense standards that we will continue to enforce."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The shocking details behind another fatal illegal alien truck crash



A crash on Tuesday in California involving an illegal alien truck driver resulted in three deaths and the hospitalization of several others.

Authorities identified the commercial truck driver allegedly responsible for the deadly collision as Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old Indian national in the United States illegally.

'It is a terrible tragedy three innocent people lost their lives due to the reckless open border policies that allowed an illegal alien to be released into the US and drive an 18-wheeler on America’s highways.'

The California Highway Patrol arrested Singh, and he is being detained without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in San Bernardino.

The CHP told KCBS-TV that officers are investigating whether Singh has a valid commercial driver’s license to operate the semitruck.

Authorities claim Singh was speeding, and they suspect he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash on the 10 Freeway in Ontario that caused three deaths and injuries to four others. All of the victims were adults, the Ontario Fire Department told KCBS.

Rodrigo Jimenez of the CHP told KTLA that one of the vehicles involved in the collision was so badly mangled that investigators still had not identified its make and model.

RELATED: Exclusive: DOT withholds $40M from blue state for flouting English requirements for truckers

Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images

“The fact that there are so many commercial vehicles involved in the crash, there’s a lot of weight behind the crash force,” Jimenez told the news outlet. “This is a very complex investigation, and that’s why officers from our multi-disciplinary accident investigation team have taken over.”

“This is a tragic crash because it was very preventable,” he continued. “If somebody had just paid attention, if everyone was driving sober, this tragedy would not have occurred.”

Singh faces charges of driving under the influence of drugs and causing bodily injury and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Dash camera footage from Singh’s cab showed the truck plowing into multiple vehicles without Singh appearing to apply the brakes.

Blaze News has reached out the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for comment.

RELATED: The fraud crippling American trucking: 'Ghost' carriers and 'NO NAME GIVEN' driver's licenses issued to foreigners

Photo by: Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Thursday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed an arrest detainer against Singh. The department noted that he was released into the country under the Biden administration after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022.

“It is a terrible tragedy three innocent people lost their lives due to the reckless open border policies that allowed an illegal alien to be released into the U.S. and drive an 18-wheeler on America’s highways,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated.

“This accident follows a disturbing trend of illegal aliens driving 18-wheelers and semitrucks on America’s roads,” she continued. “Earlier this week, DHS highlighted another fatal accident in Indiana caused by an illegal alien driving a semitruck. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is working day-in and day-out to make America’s roads safe again.”

Earlier this month, the Department of Transportation announced it would withhold $40 million from California after the state failed to comply with English-language proficiency requirements for CDL holders.

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy called the situation “OUTRAGEOUS,” adding, “This is exactly why I set new restrictions that prohibit ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS from operating trucks.”

He demanded that Newsom “join every other state in the U.S. in enforcing these new actions to prevent any more accidents and deaths.”

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The fraud crippling American trucking: 'Ghost' carriers and 'NO NAME GIVEN' driver's licenses issued to foreigners



The American trucking industry is facing numerous underreported challenges that directly impact national security, supply chain integrity, and road safety, among other critical issues that were exacerbated by the Biden administration's open-border crisis.

While the Trump administration's Department of Transportation, under the leadership of Secretary Sean Duffy, has already moved to address some of the many challenges related to the issuance of commercial driver's licenses, often referred to as CDLs, the American public remains largely unaware of the extent of those looming dangers from years of insufficient oversight in this area.

‘One third of the fleet hauling our freight in this country is not controlled by American citizens.’

The non-domiciled driver takeover

Bill Skinner, the president of Skinner Transfer Corp., a mid-size carrier that has been operating for 93 years, shed light on a portion of that reality in a September 22 X post, where he described a recent collision involving Werner Enterprises, a major American trucking company.

Skinner claimed that a Werner driver with a non-domiciled CDL ran into one of his trucks on the I-80 in Ohio.

"[The] Werner driver decided to change lanes, did it too early," Skinner told Blaze News. "Luckily, minor damage to our truck."

Skinner's driver claimed that the Werner driver required a translator app to communicate, in violation of the English language proficiency requirement for commercial operators. However, the Ohio State Highway Patrol claimed the driver "was able to effectively communicate."

"On September 17, 2025, the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated a non-injury crash involving a licensed commercial driver, who stated he attempted to make a lane change due to signage while approaching a construction zone," the Highway Patrol told Blaze News. "The driver was able to effectively communicate in English with troopers during the investigation and was cited for an improper lane change after striking the mirror of another commercial vehicle. Following the investigation, the driver was released and allowed to continue operating his vehicle."

"The Patrol remains committed to ensuring safety on Ohio’s roadways through thorough crash investigations and enforcement of traffic laws," the Highway Patrol added.

When asked for clarification about whether the driver needed a translator app, the Highway Patrol replied, "No translator was used during our interaction with the driver."

Werner Enterprises declined Blaze News' request for comment for this story.

RELATED: Hidden phones, earpieces: Five non-English speakers arrested for alleged CDL cheating scheme

Image source: Bill Skinner

'Ghost' companies dodge consequences

Skinner stated that the accident involving the Werner driver represents only a fraction of a much larger issue facing smaller and mid-size American trucking companies like his own.

Skinner explained that he has "multiple" ongoing insurance claims from other trucking companies whose drivers have caused accidents. He noted that many of the claims involve "ghost" trucking companies that are "set up in America from people overseas." The majority of incidents occur on private property, such as truck stops or shipper and receiver loading docks, which often means law enforcement does not respond to mediate the situation.

'Foreign nationals, especially from India, Uzbekistan, Moldova, they run at rates that are far less than what an American man would drive a truck for.'

When asked about what recourse his company can take to recoup damages by ghost companies, Skinner responded, "Just document what we have and hope and pray somebody has integrity." However, he noted that "very rarely" occurs.

"We end up just eating the cost," Skinner said of accidents involving ghost companies, which he noticed began popping up around 2016 and exploded in 2022. "They're outside of their insurance range. ... You can't track any of these people down, and you never get a payment from the insurance company."

Skinner stated that he has seen instances where a carrier that claimed up to 50 or 60 trucks listed its address as a strip mall gas station located at the edge of Los Angeles. Similarly, ghost trucking companies have reportedly taken over many truck stops, using them as terminals for their operations. Skinner found one instance where nearly 40 trucking companies were registered at the same address.

RELATED: American trucking at a crossroads: Deadly crash involving illegal alien exposes true cost of Biden’s border invasion

Photo by GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images

Those ghost companies typically exclusively pay their drivers on a 1099 model instead of a W-2, allowing employees to evade state and federal income taxes more easily, Skinner said. He stated that one refugee who attended his truck driving school refused to work for his carrier company because it is a W-2 employer.

Skinner told the refugee that he was still required by law to pay taxes on his income even as a 1099 worker.

"The gentleman looked right at me and says, 'We know the program. We do not pay income taxes to state or federal governments anywhere. We'll pay sales tax, but no income tax.' I said, 'What happens when they catch up to you?' [He responded,] 'The governments take four to six years to catch up to us, and by then, we're either gone or we've changed our identity. ... This is the program we've used for the last 20 years,'" Skinner told Blaze News, recounting his conversation with the refugee. "This whole non-domiciled CDL thing, it's tax evasion; it's insurance fraud. Freight theft is huge with all this, double [and] triple brokering, supply chain issues. This thing has got so many tentacles."

The saturation of non-domiciled CDLs is just one of the many issues facing the American trucking industry. Skinner noted that the September accident was not the first time a non-domiciled driver had struck one of his trucks.

Non-domiciled CDLs are licenses issued by a state to a driver who is not a resident of that state. These licenses are intended for American citizens and foreign nationals who are lawfully present in the U.S. However, varying state requirements and inadequate oversight have created opportunities for the exploitation of regulatory gaps and widespread fraud, especially during the open-border crisis.

‘I stumbled upon 500 or so non-domiciled CDLs, and 10% of them probably are “no name given.”’

Smaller American trucking companies are struggling to meet the competitive rates of larger carriers that are hiring "very inexpensive" noncitizen labor, Skinner said. He noted that it is an "unfair playing field" for smaller companies.

Skinner told Blaze News that he wants Americans to know that "one third of the fleet hauling our freight in this country is not controlled by American citizens."

"This is a national security risk and a safety risk," he declared, adding that he "firmly believe[s] that India and China are trying to disrupt our freight network."

Nameless drivers and regulatory loopholes

Danielle Chaffin, a trucking professional, uncovered further concerning issues with CDL issuance, finding that numerous states have provided licenses to drivers who failed to provide their full legal names.

Chaffin discovered CDLs that, instead of displaying the drivers' legal names, read, "NO NAME GIVEN," or various acronyms indicating a similar lack of information, including "FNU" for "first name unknown," "LNU" for "last name unknown," "NGN" for "no given name," and "UNK" for "unknown."

In some situations, these generic placeholders are added when a foreign national's name does not conform to U.S. naming conventions. However, Chaffin argued that within the trucking industry, these placeholders amount to deliberate fraud, noting that there were examples of licenses belonging to individuals who did have a full legal name, but it was not used. Most of the licenses she discovered were issued in California.

“I stumbled upon 500 or so non-domiciled CDLs, and 10% of them probably are ‘no name given,'" Chaffin, who has been tracking the situation since June, told Blaze News.

RELATED: 'Imminent hazard': Trump administration shuts licensing loophole after illegal alien trucker allegedly causes fatal crash

Image source: Danielle Chaffin

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) verified Chaffin’s findings last month when he shared an image of a CDL issued by New York that read, “NO NAME GIVEN.”

Even more concerning, the omitted names went beyond just commercial drivers. Chaffin also uncovered 91 instances since January in which a USDOT number, which companies are required to obtain to operate commercial vehicles involved in interstate commerce, was issued to individuals with no given name.

“They will file the trucking companies with that name, ‘no name given,’ but then as soon as it’s approved, they’ll go back in and update the contact to the full legal name,” Chaffin said.

When asked why carriers would do this, she speculated that the companies might be trying to skirt the matching rules within the DOT’s technology, exploiting a potential loophole in the department’s system.

‘We truly have a broken system.’

Chaffin explained that ghost, also known as chameleon or reincarnating, carriers will register for multiple USDOT numbers. Then, when the company receives penalties, faces high insurance premiums, is subject to a pending investigation or lawsuit, or earns a negative safety score, it switches to a different USDOT number to continue its operations and avoid any consequences.

“When they file for the new [trucking company], they use ‘no name given’ because it doesn’t match with the previous company," Chaffin said.

“They’ll switch the numbers out on the truck,” she continued. “Same trucking company, just a new name and number.”

— (@)

The high cost

These issues only begin to highlight the extent of the system's faults, raising concerns about road safety for everyday Americans and posing a significant national security threat.

“All of the non-domiciled CDLs are foreign nationals,” Chaffin told Blaze News. “The greatest threat in what we’re seeing now is taking the jobs and pay away from the American worker. Foreign nationals, especially from India, Uzbekistan, Moldova, they run at rates that are far less than what an American man would drive a truck for.”

She stated that legacy, family-owned American trucking companies that have been around for decades have been forced into bankruptcy.

Chaffin highlighted another issue with the increase in foreign-operated trucking companies.

“The rings of trucking companies and the technology that they use, most of it is based overseas,” she said. “They have their technology, their data centers — none of that happens in the U.S. And so, they have all of our logistics data, trucks, where they are, what’s on the trucks, what the driver’s doing, all of the infrastructure, where things are going, at what time, when it’s being picked up, when it’s being delivered.”

"We truly have a broken system," she added.

Chaffin credited Duffy for listening to the concerns of those within America's trucking industry.

The DOT secretary announced emergency action in September to drastically limit the eligibility requirement for non-domiciled CDLs. The DOT found numerous instances where non-domiciled CDLs were improperly issued, including to foreign nationals with expired work authorization.

“Truckers keep America running. While the country sleeps, truckers grind through the night to help keep shelves stocked, families fed, and businesses humming. It’s a job that requires grit and dedication. But for too long Washington, D.C., has made work harder for truckers. That ends today. Thanks to President Trump, we’re getting Washington out of your trucks and your business,” Duffy stated.

Blaze News reached out to the state-level DOTs in California, Utah, and New York regarding the no-name CDLs. The Utah DOT did not respond, and the New York and California DOTs deferred comment to their respective Department of Motor Vehicles.

The New York DMV stated that the license shared by the Oklahoma governor was "issued in accordance with all proper procedures, including verification of the individual's identity through federally issued documentation."

"The individual has lawful status in the United States through a federal employment authorization and was issued a license consistent with federal guidelines," the DMV's statement continued. "This document was not issued under the Green Light Law. It is not uncommon for individuals from other countries to have only one name. Procedures for that are clearly spelled out in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy manual, and it is important to note that federal documents also include a 'no name given' notation."

The California DMV did not respond to a request for comment.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'Imminent hazard': Trump administration shuts licensing loophole after illegal alien trucker allegedly causes fatal crash



Sean Duffy's Department of Transportation is taking decisive action to protect American roadways following an increase in tragic accidents involving non-English-speaking truck drivers.

Safety and national security issues within the trucking industry gained national attention in August after an illegal alien who obtained his commercial driver's license in California allegedly caused a fatal wreck in Florida.

'This is not a proposal. This is a final rule, and it is effective immediately.'

Duffy held a press conference on Friday morning to announce "emergency action" aimed at ensuring safer roadways.

The DOT revealed the results of a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audit, which found "systemic non-compliance" among state driver licensing agencies in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

RELATED: Duffy threatens funding freeze for 3 states flouting English requirements for truck drivers

.@SecDuffy announced an emergency action to drastically limit eligibility for non-domiciled drivers licenses.

This action is in response to horrific fatal crashes caused by non-domiciled CDL holders like the one we saw in Florida when a noncitizen made an illegal u-turn and… pic.twitter.com/AMQFnDYQex
— Rebeka Zeljko (@rebekazeljko) September 26, 2025

"This is not a proposal. This is a final rule, and it is effective immediately," Duffy said during the presser. "... Here's the bottom line: Non-citizens will not be eligible for a CDL unless they meet a much stricter set of rules. Second, all states must immediately pause the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs until they can comply with our new rules."

"My message is very simple," Duffy added. "Get into compliance now, or we'll pull funding and we'll force you into compliance."

The DOT described California as "the most egregious," citing that over 25% of the non-domiciled CDLs reviewed were improperly issued.

"The audit has uncovered both a catastrophic pattern of states issuing licenses illegally to foreign drivers, as well as the fact that even if the current regulatory framework is followed, it can fail. The confluence of these two factors have created an imminent hazard on America's roadways that must be fixed," read a DOT press release obtained by Blaze News.

The DOT attributed the issuance of a "large number" of non-domiciled CDLs to ineligible drivers to poor quality assurance, inadequate training, and programming errors. The department identified cases where licenses remained valid beyond the drivers' lawful presence in the United States.

RELATED: American trucking at a crossroads: Deadly crash involving illegal alien exposes true cost of Biden’s border invasion

Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images

The department presented four examples of California-issued CDLs with expiration dates extending beyond the work authorization periods of the respective foreign nationals. For instance, one set of images displayed a CDL with an expiration date of June 2030, issued to a foreign national whose work authorization expired in April 2022. Another photo showed a CDL with a June 2030 expiration date, issued to a foreign national whose work authorization ended in May 2021. In both cases, the licenses were issued several years after the individuals' work authorizations had lapsed.

As a result of the FMCSA's findings, the DOT declared a pause on California's issuance of non-domiciled CDLs, requiring the state to identify all unexpired licenses that fail to comply with regulations.

RELATED: Hidden phones, earpieces: Five non-English speakers arrested for alleged CDL cheating scheme

Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

The DOT issued an interim final rule to tighten eligibility requirements for non-domiciled commercial learner's permits and CDLs. Foreign nationals seeking these credentials must "meet a much stricter set of rules, including an employment-based visa and undergoing a mandatory federal immigration status check using the SAVE system."

Duffy warned in August that the department would pull federal funding from states that fail to comply with English language proficiency requirements for drivers. He noted at that time that California receives $30 million from the DOT.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Duffy threatens funding freeze for 3 states flouting English requirements for truck drivers



The Department of Transportation is taking action to further clamp down on non-English-speakers with commercial driver's licenses, following President Donald Trump's executive action.

The Obama administration's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a memorandum in 2016 that removed a requirement to place drivers out of service due to a lack of English proficiency.

'States don't get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow.'

Trump reversed that action in April, calling for the enforcement of the law to protect American roads following an increase in fatal accidents involving semi-trucks.

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Tuesday that the agency would pull federal funding for states that fail to comply with English language proficiency requirements.

He accused California, Washington, and New Mexico of failing to place drivers out of service for ELP violations. Duffy warned the three states that they have 30 days to comply or the DOT will withhold all funding from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.

California receives $30 million, Washington receives $10 million, and New Mexico receives $7 million through that program, Duffy stated during a Tuesday press conference.

RELATED: Florida teams up with ICE to crack down on illegal alien truckers after deadly crash

Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The California Highway Patrol told Overdrive in July that it does not plan to place drivers out of service for ELP violations despite the Trump administration's new guidance.

The CHP "has not implemented any enforcement changes in response to recent federal guidance requiring commercial drivers to speak English, as it is not part of California law," a spokesperson told the outlet.

"States don't get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow," Duffy stated. "As we saw with the horrific Florida crash that killed three, when states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger. Under President Trump's leadership, we are taking aggressive action to close these safety gaps, hold states accountable, and make sure every commercial driver on the road is qualified to operate a 40-ton vehicle."

A spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) appeared to blame the Trump administration for the recent fatal crash in Florida involving Harjinder Singh, an Indian national who received his commercial driver's license in California. Earlier this month, Singh's truck crushed a minivan, killing all three passengers, after he allegedly performed an illegal U-turn.

"This is rich. The Trump administration approved the federal work permit for the man who killed 3 people — and now they're scrambling to shift blame after getting caught," Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a Newsom spokesperson, told NBC News. "Sean's nonsense announcement is as big a joke as the Trump administration itself. SAD!"

RELATED: American trucking at a crossroads: Deadly crash involving illegal alien exposes true cost of Biden’s border invasion

California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied those claims.

"False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021," McLaughlin wrote in a post on X. "The state of California issues Commercial Drivers Licenses. There is no national CDL."

"Thank you for confirming that the federal government issued him a work permit and you FAILED to revoke it!" Newsom's office responded.

The Washington and New Mexico governors' offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.

— (@)

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

American trucking at a crossroads: Deadly crash involving illegal alien exposes true cost of Biden’s border invasion



An underreported safety and national security crisis within America's trucking industry is now gaining national attention after an illegal alien semi-truck driver has been accused of killing several people in Florida earlier this month.

Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old Indian national, was arrested after he jackknifed his truck while allegedly making an illegal U-turn on August 12, crushing a minivan and killing everyone in the vehicle.

Singh obtained his commercial driver's license in California despite facing pending immigration proceedings after he crossed illegally into the U.S. in 2018. The first Trump administration had fast-tracked Singh for deportation, but he was later released when he told immigration officials he was afraid to be deported back to India.

The recent tragic incident received national attention and highlighted how former President Joe Biden's open-border immigration policies contributed to significant and overlooked issues within America's trucking industry, including road safety concerns, declining wages, and broader national security risks that could take years to address.

Shannon Everett with American Truckers United has raised concerns about the effects of lowered driver qualifications for foreign nationals, which were justified by claims of an industry staffing crisis.

'I feel that this could be the biggest national security threat to the homeland that nobody is covering.’

Everett told Blaze News that many new drivers are foreign-born, having obtained their CDLs after seeking asylum and receiving employment authorization documents.

According to the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, nonresident foreign nationals can qualify for non-domiciled CDLs. Exceptions include Canadian and Mexican nationals, who must instead obtain a license from their home country, as the FMCSA has determined that the licensing standards in those countries meet its requirements.

Cole Stevens, the chief strategy officer for Stevens Trucking Co., similarly warned about the "massive increase in non-domiciled CDLs nationwide and CDL fraud," stating that the current trucking industry ecosystem is "gutting the American trucking companies one by one."

"We have definitely seen mass casualty events happening more frequently than ever before," he told Blaze News. "Unvetted, untrained, and sometimes incapable of communicating/reading English road signs is a recipe for disaster."

RELATED: Party's over: Foreign truck drivers get reality check in Alabama, thanks to Trump

Photo by Matt Mills McKnight/Getty Images

The ultimate cost

The lack of proper vetting in favor of "rampant labor dumping" has reportedly led to an increase in fatal accidents.

American Truckers United shared a chart tracking the trend of large-truck-involved fatal crashes from 2008 to 2022.

The group noted that in 2016, the Obama administration's FMCSA issued a memorandum removing the requirement to place drivers out of service for lack of English proficiency, which subsequently appeared to lead to an increase in accidents. From 2008 to 2015, the annual number of truck-involved fatal crashes peaked at 4,089. In contrast, from 2016 to 2023, the lowest annual number of truck-involved fatal crashes was 4,562, reaching a maximum of 5,873 in 2022.

‘We keep putting profit ahead of life, and I'm now a widow because of that.’

A heartbreaking incident exemplified this alarming trend in June 2024, when a semi-truck driver lost control of his vehicle on Colorado's Highway 285, resulting in the death of Scott Miller, 64, a husband, father, and grandfather.

The driver's semi-truck, which was transporting steel pipes, collided with the car in front of it, causing the truck to jackknife. The straps securing the truck's cargo failed, and the pipes fell onto Miller's vehicle, instantly crushing and killing him.

The driver of the truck was Ignacio Cruz Mendoza, a Mexican national who was illegally in the U.S. and did not hold a valid CDL at the time of the crash. Cruz Mendoza had been removed or voluntarily left the U.S. 16 times prior to the tragedy. After he spent just eight months of his year-long sentence in prison for the fatal accident, Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Crus Mendoza from the country.

RELATED: The deadly trucker crisis — and why mass migration is to blame

Photo by RJ Sangosti/Denver Post via Getty Images

The victim, Scott Miller, a commercial truck driver himself, and his wife, Deann Miller, previously operated their own trucking company hauling water.

Deann Miller rejected claims of a staffing shortage in the trucking industry, arguing that many qualified American drivers are willing to work, but some companies are cutting corners by hiring non-domiciled drivers to save costs.

"Truckers make good money, and they didn't want to pay that," she told Blaze News. "These companies are putting profit over lives."

"We're allowing [foreign nationals] to come in with whatever license they claim they had from their country," Miller continued. "Our truck drivers are held to a much higher standard, and they go through special schooling."

Miller explained that driving large trucks is "a skilled profession," especially in mountainous areas where drivers must know how to downshift correctly, as brakes alone cannot stop an 80,000-pound truck traveling downhill.

‘This is not even an issue for the trucking industry. This is a national security issue.’

Miller told Blaze News that there is another underreported aspect to the story: slave labor.

"These companies and corporations are bringing people over from China, Africa, Russia, Mexico, all over the place, and they're promising them good wages and a place to live. What's actually happening is these drivers are literally living out of their trucks because the trucking companies are only paying them minimum wage," she said.

Miller refuses to let her husband's death be in vain. She is advocating for mountain endorsements for truck drivers and a return to manned roadside weigh stations and inspection stops.

"We should have stops at the bottom of every mountain road and make sure every truck is assessed before it's alone on these mountain bypasses," she added. "But that's money — tax dollars. But what's more important: money or life? We keep putting profit ahead of life, and I'm now a widow because of that."

"My husband lost his life," Miller said. "And I lost my life the day my husband died. ... He was my best friend. We did everything together. I don't have my best friend any more."

RELATED: Highway to hell: Mass influx of foreign-born truckers cause carnage on American roads

Rebecca Noble/Bloomberg via Getty Images

National security risks

The increase in loosely vetted foreign nationals entering the trucking workforce after crossing the border has also sparked concerns about national security.

Raman Dhillon, CEO of the North American Punjabi Trucking Association, has called the alleged driver shortage a myth that has been used to justify relaxed driver requirements.

Dhillon stated that he warned the Biden administration that there would be "a crisis coming" due to the surge in foreign nationals crossing the border and entering the trucking industry with little industry experience.

"This is not even an issue for the trucking industry. This is a national security issue," he declared.

The Transportation Security Administration issued a report in 2017, warning about the increased number of global "ramming attacks" by terrorists.

‘Non-domiciled CDL issuance represents a growing trend for which no one has yet fully accounted.’

"Commercial vehicles — distinguished by their large size, weight, and carrying capacity — present an especially attractive mechanism for vehicle ramming attacks because of the ease with which they can penetrate security barriers and the large-scale damage they can inflict on people and infrastructure," the report read.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated in April that the National Counterterrorism Center identified 600 people with terrorism ties who entered the U.S. illegally, claimed asylum, and were paroled by the Biden administration.

American Truckers United argued, "The American people DESERVE to know: Were some of these 600 individuals issued Non-Domicile CDLs, giving them access to operate massive commercial trucks on our roads? This is a NATIONAL SECURITY CRISIS! Demand transparency NOW!"

Stevens called this possibility the "ultimate Trojan horse that nobody is talking about."

"I feel that this could be the biggest national security threat to the homeland that nobody is covering," Stevens told Blaze News. "Every non-domiciled license I have seen has been under the age of 42, most in their 20s."

Stevens noted that the average age of American truck drivers is roughly 51 years old.

"I haven't seen a single one over that age for the foreign drivers/licenses that have been issued since COVID. Something is off, right?" he questioned.

Last year, two illegal aliens, Jordanian nationals, were arrested after they allegedly attempted to breach Marine Corps Base Quantico. The men reportedly posed as Amazon delivery drivers and, failing to provide proper credentials, tried to drive their box truck onto the base anyway before they were stopped by guards who deployed vehicle denial barriers.

The incident sparked concerns about a potential terrorist plot, though those claims were never substantiated.

How we got here

Although Canada and Mexico are the only two countries with CDL reciprocity agreements with the U.S., the FMCSA can issue temporary waivers, valid up to 90 days, or exemptions, valid up to two years, that allow foreign drivers from other countries to operate within the U.S.

A July report from Overdrive attempted to answer whether there has been a recent increase in non-domiciled CDL issuance across the United States. The outlet noted that determining the number of issued licenses was difficult because there is no universal tracking system, and several states that issue these CDLs do not track their own data either.

"Overdrive found just seven states that don't issue CDLs to noncitizens with work authorization; 11 states do issue non-domiciled CDLs but can't readily produce data about them; and 32 states ultimately did provide numbers. Among the states that didn't provide data, six said they would have to pay a contractor to produce the data, and two offered no response at all," the report read.

Despite missing data, Overdrive estimated that there are more than 60,000 active non-domiciled CDLs currently in the country. The report stated that "non-domiciled CDL issuance has increased quickly among the majority of states that provided data," noting that Louisiana issued only 20 in 2021 and jumped to 172 in 2024.

"Non-domiciled CDL issuance represents a growing trend for which no one has yet fully accounted," Overdrive concluded.

Everett told Blaze News that non-domiciled CDLs are primarily issued in California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Montana, Texas, and Florida.

"They are not vetting these drivers," he warned, adding that in some instances, CDLs have been issued to individuals who have provided inaccurate birthdate information or failed to submit their full names.

RELATED: A trucker's open letter to DOGE's Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk

Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Biden-Harris Administration Trucking Action Plan further exacerbated issues within the industry by "reduc[ing] barriers to drivers getting CDLs" and providing states with funds and guidance to "expedite licensing."

As part of the administration's attempt to address the alleged staffing shortage in the trucking industry, it threw millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded grants at training schools.

However, an increase in pop-up CDL mills appeared to follow the federal government's financial support.

In May, reports emerged that a trucking academy with branches in Washington and Oregon had been accused of bribing an independent state tester with cash-filled envelopes to pass its students. The school advertised teaching driving classes in Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, and Turkish.

And this is not an isolated instance; there are several recent cases involving similar alleged CDL fraud schemes.

Authorities in Florida arrested eight individuals, including two Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles employees, for their alleged participation in a scheme that involved selling thousands of fraudulent licenses, including CDLs, to illegal aliens.

The Department of Justice announced the arrest of a former Massachusetts State Police trooper in August, who was sentenced to prison for three months for his role in a CDL fraud plot. The trooper and three MSP employees allegedly "conspired to give preferential treatment to at least 17 CDL applicants by agreeing to give passing scores on their CDL tests regardless of whether or not they actually passed."

A July report from Freight Waves stated that despite a $926 million grant in 2024 to FMCSA to increase carrier safety, only 6% of interstate carriers actually underwent a compliance review.

"What does that actually mean? It means you can start a trucking company, put equipment on the road, hire drivers with questionable training — and the government might never even glance in your direction," the news outlet wrote. "It also means brokers, shippers, and even insurance companies are making decisions based on an illusion of compliance. A lot of these carriers aren't flying under the radar — they were never even on it to begin with."

Call to action

Everett predicted that highway safety will continue to deteriorate unless "sizeable action" is taken to correct the course.

American Truckers United has requested that President Donald Trump's DOT immediately revoke and ban non-domiciled CDLs for noncitizens. The group also called for restrictions on foreign CDLs, requiring that those drivers operate only within designated commercial trade zones by banning domestic hauling beyond those areas.

‘Allowing unvetted individuals into the trucking workforce poses unacceptable risks to national security, public safety, and the flow of commerce.’

Everett told Blaze News, "All of the countries identified as having dumped drivers into the American labor market are well known for third-world conditions and living standards for their workers. This has had the intended effect."

He explained that labor dumping has driven down wages and living standards for American workers.

"It's important to note that no enforcement mechanisms exist to ensure these new drivers are being paid prevailing wages or income taxes. Likewise because of staffing problems at FMCSA, little to no enforcement exists for these operators when it comes to safety regulations," Everett added.

Stevens believes some issues could be resolved by implementing new license standards and federal-level auditing, particularly for interstate commerce.

"I'm a big proponent of states' rights over any federalization, but movement of goods [and] people between states seems like a federal issue to me," Stevens said. "And right now that licensing structure amongst states is in shambles. And I believe it has been exploited way beyond comprehension."

"I would love to see President Trump call for a full audit of all CDLs issued over the last five years, because I have a feeling that this problem trickles into all forms of licenses," he stated.

RELATED: Were Biden’s strict fuel economy standards illegal? Sean Duffy says yes.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and President Trump have moved to address the issues impacting the trucking industry.

In June, Duffy announced that the DOT would launch a nationwide audit on non-domiciled CDLs to specifically review for potentially "unqualified individuals obtaining licenses and posing a hazard on our roads."

The review aims to identify and prevent any potential patterns of abuse within state issuance procedures.

Duffy stated, "The open-borders policies of the last administration allowed millions to flood our country — leading to serious allegations that the trucking licensing system is being exploited."

A DOT spokesperson told Blaze News, "Under Secretary Duffy's leadership, the U.S. Department of Transportation is restoring strict security standards to protect the traveling public and safeguard our supply chains. Allowing unvetted individuals into the trucking workforce poses unacceptable risks to national security, public safety, and the flow of commerce. That is why we are working to close any loopholes, enhance background checks, and ensure only qualified, lawful drivers are entrusted with operating America's commercial vehicles."

Earlier this year, the Trump administration also moved to reverse Obama's 2016 memo, re-enforcing penalties for lack of English proficiency. The White House called it "a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers."

Rubio announced on Thursday that the State Department would immediately pause all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers. The announcement appeared to be a reaction to the recent fatal crash in Florida involving an illegal alien.

A senior Department of Homeland Security official told Blaze News, “The Biden administration abused its parole authority to create an industrial-scale catch-and-release scheme, letting in unvetted illegal aliens including known suspected terrorists, gang members, and criminals, and the Trump administration is correcting that. DHS terminated parole for nearly 500,000 illegal aliens. Many states are using the SAVE database to help identify illegal aliens before granting them benefits like a driver’s license. We conduct thorough screening and vetting for any individual encountered at our borders to identify threats to public safety and national security.”

“While DHS does not directly coordinate with state transportation agencies in vetting CDL applicants, we will use every tool and resource available to protect the homeland, prevent terrorism, and keep our roads safe. The safety of Americans comes first,” the official said.

The TSA did not respond to a request for comment.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

EXCLUSIVE: Sean Duffy Launches Audit That Could Smoke Out Illegal Immigrants From Trucking Industry

'Our audit is about protecting the safety of families'

The deadly trucker crisis — and why mass migration is to blame



Mass immigration has had a profound impact on many industries in America, and one of them is the trucking industry — which the Trump administration is tackling with an executive order.

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the executive order “will be an order directing the Department of Transportation to include English literacy tests for our truckers.”

“This is a big problem in the trucking community, that unless you’re in that community, you might not know. But there’s a lot of communication problems between truckers on the road with federal officials and local officials as well, which obviously is a public safety risk,” Leavitt explained in a recent press conference.

“So we’re going to ensure that our truckers, who are the backbone of our economy, are all able to speak English,” she continued.


Gord Magill, trucker and author of “End of the Road,” has warned that it’s not just benign communication issues occurring — but that they can and have turned deadly.

“We have all these extra drivers on the roads who do not speak English, and that’s sort of a problem given that the language of the road is English. All your highway signs are in English, all your weather reports are in English, all of your enforcement officers are in English,” Magill tells Jill Savage and Matthew Peterson of “Blaze News Tonight.”

“What happened is that the accident statistics for trucks started to increase, so you started seeing more collisions and more people involved in fatal collisions,” Magill continues, noting that it all began after Biden’s “trucking action plan.”

“There was a COVID demand spike, which is why Biden did this trucking action plan, and then that dissipated, and we’ve been in what’s called a freight recession basically for the last three years, and American legacy trucking companies, mom and pops, medium-sized carriers, have been going out of business left, right, and center,” he explains.

“But this number of insource drivers remains the same, and more and more of them are getting in accidents. Like the statistics show an increase year-over-year since 2016 since this loophole was opened and has been going higher since 2021,” he adds.

Want more from 'Blaze News Tonight'?

To enjoy more provocative opinions, expert analysis, and breaking stories you won’t see anywhere else, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.