U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced Oct. 30 the completion of the Midway Blitz operation, which has resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens on Indiana highways near the Illinois state line — including 146 truck drivers.
According to the news release, DHS has linked the arrested individuals with criminal activity, ranging from driving under the influence and fraud, theft, burglary, to assault, child abuse, domestic battery, drug trafficking and prostitution.
More than 140 of the arrested held commercial driver licenses (CDLs), and DHS says that most of them were issued in Illinois, California, and New York. (Source: DHS)
“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,” Noem said in a news release. “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 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,” added ICE acting director Todd Lyons.
“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.”
