Federal and local authorities in Indiana have arrested 223 illegal immigrants in a recent law enforcement operation, including 146 semi-truck drivers, as part of an effort to remove foreigners who shouldn’t be licensed to operate commercial trucks on U.S. roadways.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the arrests Thursday during a news conference in Gary, Indiana.
"If you are here driving on our streets and highways illegally, you are endangering our citizens, and your days are numbered," Noem said. "Too many families across this country have felt pain, been victimized, and lost loved ones because of these illegal drivers."
"We don’t want any of these individuals on our roads or in our communities, and we especially don’t want them behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler when they can’t speak our language, don’t understand our laws, can’t follow roadway signs, and can’t interact with law enforcement or our citizens," she added.
