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A Cuban who was driving a truck without a commercial license was detained during a raid conducted by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), official sources reported.
The Cuban truck driver, who does not have legal status in the U.S., was one of more than 120 undocumented immigrants captured during the joint operation conducted by the two agencies between September 22 and 25, as indicated in a statement published this Tuesday on the official ICE website.
The arrest of the driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, occurred following a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 (I-40) in western Oklahoma, where a special operation was carried out for three days as part of ICE's 287(g) program.
This regulation allows the police in each state of the nation to collaborate directly with immigration agents to identify and detain foreigners in irregular situations.
The ICE report details that during intensive patrolling, 120 undocumented foreigners were apprehended for immigration violations, 91 of whom were driving a commercial vehicle with a commercial driver's license (CDL) and 29 without one.
Additionally, another 27 foreigners in an irregular situation were captured in passenger vehicles during routine traffic checks, and two were found in a nearby marijuana crop.
The ICE stated that the 120 arrested illegal migrants are associated with prior convictions for offenses such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) - some with two or more charges, it specified - illegal reentry into the U.S., money laundering, human trafficking, assault, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and possession of controlled dangerous substances.
According to the agency's data, among the 91 undocumented foreigners operating a commercial vehicle with a CDL license, 10 have exceeded their authorized length of stay in the country, 80 entered illegally or with humanitarian parole, have pending asylum applications or immigration hearings, and one person has a final deportation order.
Of the 29 individuals who were found driving without a license (one from Cuba, three from China, 10 from Guatemala, and 15 from Mexico), 23 had entered the U.S. between 2020 and 2024.
"The illegal immigrants have no business behind the wheel of 18-wheeler trucks on U.S. highways. Our roads are now safer, as these illegal foreigners are no longer behind the wheel," stated Madison Sheahan, Deputy Director of ICE. "We encourage more state and local law enforcement agencies to sign 287(g) agreements to help eliminate threats to public safety."
These arrests come weeks after fatal accidents caused by illegal immigrants driving 18-wheeler trucks on U.S. roads.
One of the most tragic accidents was caused by the Cuban Alexis Osmani González Companioni, 27 years old, at the end of last June, when he allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and crashed the truck he was driving into a line of vehicles on Interstate 20 in the state of Texas, resulting in the deaths of five people, four of whom were from the same family.
González, a former youth leader of the Cuban regime, emigrated to Spain in 2020 and then entered the U.S. with an ESTA visa. Following the incident, it became known that he held a commercial driver's license (CDL) to work as a driver, but it was unclear whether he was in the U.S. illegally or had already normalized his immigration status.
In August, another of the controversial cases that have reignited the debate over the issuance of commercial driver's licenses to individuals without U.S. citizenship was registered. In Florida, Harjinger Singh, a 28-year-old truck driver who has been living in the country illegally since 2018, caused a fatal accident on the Turnpike in Fort Pierce, resulting in three deaths.
The U.S. has tightened requirements for granting commercial driver's licenses to truck drivers without citizenship
In September, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) tightened the requirements for obtaining commercial driver's licenses (CDL) for non-citizens, following three fatal accidents that occurred this year, which were caused by immigrant truck drivers who "should not have received permits," the authority warned.
An official statement indicated that states must suspend the issuance of CDLs to non-citizens until they demonstrate compliance with the new rules, which limit eligibility to three types of visas (H-2A, H-2B, and E-2), require verification of immigration status in a federal database, and establish a maximum validity of one year (or less if the visa expires sooner).
The Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, announced that the eligibility for commercial learner's permits (CLP) and commercial driver's licenses (CDL) for non-residents would be drastically limited.
Types of CDL licenses in the United States
There are three main classes of CDL, according to the type and weight of the vehicle:
- Class A
Allows driving combination vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds (11,793 kg) or more, as long as the towed vehicle weighs more than 10,000 pounds. For example, trailers, articulated trucks (tractor-trailer), large tank trucks, double trailers.
- Class B
Allows you to drive only one vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or that tows a vehicle weighing less than 10,000 pounds. Examples: buses, large delivery trucks, garbage trucks, medium tankers.
- Class C
For vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or hazardous materials (hazmat) in quantities that require labeling. Examples: personnel transport vans, small buses, courier vehicles with hazardous materials.
General requirements to obtain a CDL
- Must be at least 21 years old (some states allow driving within the state from the age of 18).
- Possess a valid regular driver's license (Class D).
- Pass a medical examination and obtain a certificate from the Department of Transportation (DOT).
- Approve:
- A theoretical exam (on traffic laws, safety, and cargo management).
- A practical exam (vehicle inspection, basic control, and road driving).
Frequently asked questions about ICE raids and immigrant detentions
Why was the Cuban truck driver detained in Oklahoma?
The Cuban truck driver was arrested for driving without a commercial license and for lacking legal status in the U.S. The arrest occurred during a joint raid by ICE and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on Interstate 40.
What is the purpose of the ICE 287(g) program?
The ICE 287(g) program allows state police to collaborate directly with immigration agents to identify and detain foreign nationals who are in the country unlawfully. This program was utilized during the raid in which the Cuban truck driver was arrested in Oklahoma.
What are the consequences of driving a commercial vehicle without a license in the U.S.?
Driving a commercial vehicle without a license in the U.S. can lead to arrests and deportation if the driver is undocumented. Additionally, authorities may consider that the person poses a public safety risk, as was the case with the Cuban truck driver detained in Oklahoma.
What changes has the U.S. implemented in the issuance of CDL licenses for non-citizens?
The U.S. has tightened the requirements for obtaining CDL licenses for non-citizens, limiting eligibility to three types of visas and requiring verification of immigration status. These changes aim to enhance road safety and ensure that only qualified drivers obtain these licenses.
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