ICE Operation Highway Sentinel arrests over 100 illegal alien truck drivers in Gavin Newsom’s California
ICE - Press Release
December 23, 2025
The operation follows a series of fatal accidents caused by illegal aliens who were issued commercial driver’s licenses in Gavin Newsom’s California
SAN FRANCISCO — On Dec. 23, ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Francisco and HSI Los Angeles, along with federal partners, announced the successful conclusion of Operation Highway Sentinel, which resulted in the arrests of 101 illegal aliens truck drivers on California highways. This operation took place throughout California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom issued thousands of commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens who then went on to cause multiple high-profile fatal accidents in California, Florida and Oregon.
“Gavin Newsom’s sanctuary state policies are costing American lives,” said ICE Deputy Director Madison D. Sheahan. “His government knowingly issued thousands of CDLs to illegal aliens who had no business driving at all, let alone behind the wheel of a massive semi-truck. These drivers get their licenses, leave California, then terrorize roads all over the country. ICE is stepping in where his state failed. Just like our operations in Oklahoma and Indiana, we are taking these dangerous illegal alien truckers off the roads and making California streets safe again.”
Throughout 2025, criminal illegal aliens driving commercial vehicles on American roads caused multiple fatal accidents in California, Florida and Oregon that collectively cost eight innocent lives. Operation Highway Sentinel was launched in direct response to this threat. Under Newsom, the state of California knowingly issued thousands of CDLs to illegal aliens who had no business being on U.S. roads. Many of the truck drivers who caused these fatal crashes couldn’t even read English or understand road signs.
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