The Trump administration is broadening the role Homeland Security plays in commercial vehicle safety enforcement, pairing agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations with federal truck inspectors during roadside operations. The latest push, described by officials as the second wave of "Operation Highway Shield," ran across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio over three days in late July.
Working alongside state highway patrols and inspectors from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the joint teams pulled 766 drivers and vehicles out of service and made 86 arrests. Officials recorded 36 English proficiency violations and detained 51 people on suspected immigration violations, including 21 commercial drivers holding non-domiciled licenses issued by California and New York. Investigators also recovered close to $1 million in stolen cargo during the sweep.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has tightened English language proficiency enforcement and narrowed eligibility for non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses since taking office, and his agency has partnered with Homeland Security on separate investigations into truck driver training schools. In February, more than 550 CDL schools received notices of proposed removal from the national training provider registry after federal sting operations found instructors using fake addresses and skipping required hazmat training.
A February rule restricted non-domiciled CDL eligibility to holders of H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 visa status, ending the use of Employment Authorization Documents as standalone proof of eligibility. States must now check every applicant against the federal SAVE database before issuing a license. Critics argue the changes are driven by immigration policy rather than crash data. Supporters say the added verification closes a gap in how states screen out of state drivers with limited safety histories.
Source: Heavy Duty Trucking -- https://www.truckinginfo.com/news/trump-administration-expands-ices-role-in-trucking-enforcement