Federal immigration agents are now working alongside state troopers at commercial truck weigh stations across the country as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on illegal commercial drivers, according to U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan.
Appearing on Fox News on Tuesday, Homan said the Department of Homeland Security is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation and state law enforcement agencies to identify commercial drivers who are operating trucks with improperly issued commercial driver’s licenses.
“We’ve got a lot of people we’re looking for,” Homan said. “Actually, some states we’re actually working weigh stations with the troopers, trying to get these people as they’re coming through.”
Homan said more than 28,000 non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses have been revoked nationwide and acknowledged that obtaining driver records from some states has complicated enforcement efforts.
“We’re working very closely with many states,” Homan said, adding that DHS is coordinating with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy while the Department of Justice pursues legal action against jurisdictions that refuse to share driver information.
Enforcement Expands Beyond Paperwork
The latest announcement builds on a series of recent commercial vehicle enforcement operations by state agencies focused on licensing violations, unsafe equipment, hours-of-service compliance, and immigration-related offenses.
Last week, FreightWaves reported that law enforcement agencies in Texas, Arizona, and California had expanded commercial vehicle inspections targeting unqualified drivers and unsafe trucks. Those operations resulted in immigration arrests, equipment citations, and drivers being placed out of service.
Homan suggested the latest federal effort goes beyond revoking licenses by focusing on locating drivers who remain behind the wheel after their commercial driving privileges have been canceled. According to Homan, DHS agents are working directly with state troopers at weigh stations to identify those drivers during routine commercial vehicle inspections.
Arizona Stop Highlights Safety Concerns
The enforcement push comes as Arizona authorities continue reporting cases involving commercial drivers operating without required credentials.
In a Facebook post, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said on Tuesday a Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Enforcement trooper stopped a hotshot truck on June 26 along State Route 202 near Arizona State University after discovering numerous violations.
Investigators said the driver lacked both a commercial driver’s license and a required USDOT medical certificate. Inspectors also found that none of the trailer’s brakes were functioning, meaning only the tow vehicle could stop the fully loaded 14,900-pound trailer.
Arizona troopers also cited exposed hubcaps and a missing emergency brake cable before placing the driver and vehicle out of service.
Reaction and Criticism
The enforcement effort has drawn mixed reactions in the trucking community. On FreightWaves’ discussion forum, one commenter asked: “Where’s the enforcement on the East Coast? That’s where the real corruption is and the most sanctuary cities, in New York, Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland.”
Another commenter praised the crackdown: “Excellent start at getting these people out of trucks and off our roads. Every week I hear about another accident and more innocent people killed. Enough. You must also go after the trucking companies and the states where these people live.”
Others pointed to broader issues in the industry. One commenter noted: “Why isn’t there a focus on foreigners who own US trucking companies. The foreign owners like to hire foreign drivers. A lot of these illegal truck drivers are working for these foreign-owned trucking companies. The Big Trucking companies generally don’t hire illegal truck drivers.”
The Bottom Line
Federal immigration agents are now working alongside state troopers at weigh stations nationwide to target illegal commercial truck drivers. Border Czar Tom Homan said more than 28,000 commercial driver’s licenses have been revoked, and enforcement is expanding beyond paperwork to locate drivers still on the road. A recent stop in Arizona found a driver without a license or medical certificate operating a truck with no functioning trailer brakes.
