BORDER CHAOS: ICE SHUTS DOWN INDIANA HIGHWAY, 146 TRUCKERS EXPOSED!

A chilling discovery began with just three commercial driver’s licenses – issued to individuals unlawfully present in the United States. This seemingly small number hinted at a far deeper, more dangerous problem brewing beneath the surface of America’s trucking industry.

A coordinated operation along Indiana highways, spearheaded by ICE and Indiana State Police, exposed the scale of the issue. 223 arrests were made, including 146 truck drivers, many entangled in serious offenses ranging from drug trafficking to child abuse. But beyond these crimes, a disturbing pattern emerged: a significant number possessed commercial driver’s licenses, often obtained through questionable means.

Federal authorities weren’t simply reacting to isolated incidents. They were responding to mounting evidence of systemic fraud, revealed through comprehensive audits of state licensing practices. Estimates suggest as many as 130,000 undocumented truck drivers could be on U.S. roads, a figure that sparked urgent concerns about public safety.

The stakes were raised dramatically as the federal government threatened to withhold vital highway funding from states failing to address the widespread CDL fraud. New York faced the potential loss of $73 million, California $160 million, and others faced substantial penalties – a clear signal that the issue demanded immediate attention.

New York officials vehemently denied wrongdoing, claiming full compliance with federal regulations. However, the pressure mounted, and California responded by initiating the revocation of 17,000 improperly issued licenses, a stark admission of the problem’s severity.

Audits painted a grim picture. Over half of non-domiciled CDL applications in New York were found to be fraudulent. In California, a quarter of reviewed licenses were improperly issued. The problem wasn’t confined to these states; Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington all showed evidence of flawed practices.

This isn’t a new crisis. Over two decades, the number of foreign-born truck drivers has more than doubled. Today, immigrants comprise nearly 20% of the trucking workforce, a percentage that may be significantly higher due to underreporting. The majority originate from Central America and the Caribbean, with growing numbers from Asia and Eastern Europe.

Certain states are particularly affected. California, New Jersey, Florida, and New York all have significantly higher proportions of immigrant truck drivers, raising concerns about the potential for increased risk and the strain on licensing oversight.

The fraud extends beyond simply immigration status. Investigators uncovered a web of deceit involving identity theft, bribery, counterfeit licenses, and even professional test-takers. The system was being exploited at every level.

The case of Flor Consuelo Del Carmen Caballero Bernabe, a Peruvian citizen who operated a commercial vehicle for nearly 25 years using a stolen identity, exemplifies the audacity of the fraud. She obtained a U.S. passport, traveled internationally, and consistently passed medical examinations – all under a false name and Social Security number.

In Washington State, a brazen bribery scheme at Skyline CDL School involved cash payments for passing scores, even for students who never took the test. An astonishing 80% of drivers retested after the scheme was uncovered failed, revealing the depth of the corruption.

Texas authorities discovered a surge in counterfeit Mexican licenses following the digitization of Mexico’s licensing system. Drivers, often from Central America, were purchasing fake credentials for $2,500, contributing to a rise in crashes involving these fraudulent licenses.

The corruption wasn’t limited to schools and individuals. DMV employees and trucking school owners were implicated in widespread bribery and test-taking schemes, with convictions secured in California and Massachusetts. One Massachusetts officer even accepted bribes in the form of bottled water and candy in exchange for guaranteed passing scores.