Governor Greg Abbott announced this week that Texas law enforcement, in partnership with federal agencies, apprehended 31 illegal immigrant commercial drivers along Interstate 40 during a targeted enforcement operation — highlighting the growing safety risks posed by states that freely issue driver’s licenses to those in the country illegally.
The one-day commercial vehicle enforcement initiative, conducted Nov. 11 by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, resulted in the inspection of 105 commercial vehicles. During those checks, DPS troopers determined that nearly one-third of the drivers were unlawfully present in the United States.
Despite presenting commercial driver’s licenses during the roadside evaluations, each of the 31 drivers was ultimately found to be in the country illegally. According to authorities, the majority of those licenses were issued in California — a state whose policies allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver credentials. None of the apprehended drivers held Texas-issued CDLs.
Governor Abbott criticized progressive states for prioritizing political agendas over public safety.
“Millions of Texans drive on our highways, roads and streets every day,” Abbott said. “When illegal immigrants break the law and illegally drive on our roads, they endanger the lives of countless Texans and Americans. 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.”
Texas officials say the operation was part of a broader statewide strategy to keep dangerous drivers and unsafe commercial vehicles off the roads, particularly along vital freight corridors like I-40, one of the nation’s longest transcontinental highways.
The apprehended drivers were all referred to ICE for further immigration action.
As Texas continues to lead the fight against border insecurity and the downstream public safety hazards it creates, the state is once again calling out the reckless decisions of sanctuary jurisdictions that ignore the rule of law—leaving other states to clean up the mess and protect American motorists.
