San Francisco, CA. — On Dec. 23, ICE Homeland Security Investigations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, working with federal partners, announced the conclusion of Operation Highway Sentinel, which resulted in the arrests of 101 unauthorized commercial truck drivers across California highways.
The operation was conducted statewide and focused on commercial trucking activity following a series of fatal crashes in 2025 involving commercial vehicles in California, Florida, and Oregon. Federal officials stated that those incidents collectively resulted in eight deaths and prompted concerns about driver qualifications and licensing practices.
According to ICE, the operation targeted individuals operating commercial motor vehicles without lawful immigration status, as well as trucking companies suspected of engaging in broader criminal activity. Officials alleged that some drivers lacked the ability to read or understand English-language road signage, raising safety concerns.
ICE Deputy Director Madison D. Sheahan said the operation was initiated to address what federal authorities described as gaps in enforcement at the state level, particularly related to the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses.
Throughout the enforcement effort, HSI San Francisco and HSI Los Angeles coordinated with multiple federal agencies to identify and apprehend drivers considered a public safety risk. Similar operations conducted by ICE in Indiana, New York, and Oklahoma have resulted in more than 200 arrests nationwide, according to the agency.
HSI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King said the operation concentrated on central and northern California, where investigators examined trucking companies suspected of links to human smuggling, labor trafficking, narcotics trafficking, cargo theft, and fraud.
Federal officials also highlighted the importance of port security during the operation. Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach, which together handle a significant share of U.S. imports, were among the locations where approximately 800 cargo inspections were conducted. Two additional arrests were made during those inspections.
HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang stated that ensuring lawful transportation of cargo from major ports is critical to roadway safety and supply chain security.
The operation was carried out through the Homeland Security Task Force Sacramento, a multi-agency partnership that includes ICE, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Those arrested during Operation Highway Sentinel include nationals from India, Mexico, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Nicaragua, Russia, Georgia, Venezuela, El Salvador, and Honduras. ICE officials said all individuals are being held in federal custody pending immigration proceedings.
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