Indiana’s Crackdown on Undocumented Drivers
In Indiana, around 300 undocumented immigrants with commercial driver’s licenses have been apprehended over the past three months. This figure was shared by Tony Ferraro, an aide to Governor Mike Braun.
During a meeting with the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Ferraro indicated that at least 283 illegal drivers had been found operating trucks at weigh stations during a 90-day span.
He mentioned, “We unload more than three cases a day from the truck.”
Ferraro emphasized, “The bottom line is it was illegal. It was against the law. We prosecuted and took over enforcement action.” However, he did not elaborate on the specific laws the drivers might have violated. It was noted that many of these individuals held CDLs issued from states like California and New York. He pointed out that citizenship isn’t required to obtain a commercial driver’s license, meaning that both citizens and non-citizens can legally get one.
Interestingly, in February, leaders from New York City declared they would stop issuing commercial driver’s licenses to non-citizens, partly due to increased regulations from the Trump administration. Yet, the legal implications of how Indiana is handling this matter seem a bit murky.
Federal rules stipulate that CDL holders must be authorized to work in the U.S., but if a valid CDL was issued by a state that didn’t previously require citizenship, it could create a legal conundrum around the ability to operate a commercial vehicle. Legal experts suggest that this is an issue states may struggle with.
Governor Braun has voiced a strong commitment to road safety in Indiana, particularly regarding unauthorized immigrant drivers behind the wheel of commercial vehicles.
Ferraro mentioned that he’s ramping up speed enforcement on state highways and Interstate 30, noting that the police presence is more significant than he’s witnessed in the 14 years he’s lived there. The goal of the increased patrols is twofold: to reduce speeding and to allow officers to stop and check drivers for potential criminal or immigration-related issues.
It’s worth noting that Indiana does not provide driver’s licenses of any kind to undocumented immigrants. At this point, it remains unclear if the undocumented drivers are facing either state or federal charges or if they’ve been referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
