GARY, Indiana — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Governor Mike Braun announced that 223 people, including 146 semi-truck drivers, were arrested on Indiana highways near the Illinois state line as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a joint enforcement effort between DHS, ICE, and the Indiana State Police.

The operation, launched in mid-September, focused on illegal immigrant drivers operating commercial vehicles on major routes in Northwest Indiana — an area known as a major freight corridor connecting Chicago to the rest of the Midwest.

According to Homeland Security, many of the truck drivers arrested held commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued by Illinois, California, and New York, all states with sanctuary policies that have recently come under federal scrutiny.

“Far too many innocent Americans have been killed by illegal aliens driving semi-trucks and big rigs,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “Thanks to President Trump, Operation Midway Blitz has already removed over 140 illegal alien truck drivers in Indiana. The brave men and women of ICE and the Indiana State Police are working nonstop to get criminal illegal aliens out of our communities and off our roads.”

Officials said the truck drivers arrested included individuals with criminal records involving driving under the influence, drug trafficking, theft, burglary, assault, child abuse, domestic battery, prostitution, and fraud.

“Indiana is the Crossroads of America, and that’s something we’re proud of,” said Governor Mike Braun. “But it also means we must stay vigilant about those using our interstates for crime and thus endangering our communities. The safety of our state is our top priority, and we’ll keep working with our federal partners to keep Hoosiers — and Americans — safe.”

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said the arrests highlight the danger posed by unqualified and unauthorized drivers operating heavy commercial vehicles. “In recent weeks, we’ve seen illegal semi-truck drivers responsible for significant loss of life across the country. This was preventable, and that is precisely why we are working to ensure this doesn’t happen in Indiana or Illinois,” he said.

Operation Midway Blitz, named in honor of Katie Abraham, a woman killed by a drunk illegal immigrant truck driver in Illinois, is part of a larger DHS effort targeting illegal alien truck drivers nationwide. According to ICE, similar enforcement operations are underway in Oklahoma, where more than 250 illegal truck drivers have already been arrested.

Officials say the Indiana initiative will continue in the coming weeks, with additional inspections and arrests expected as part of an ongoing collaboration between ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Indiana State Police.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the top three states that issued CDLs to the illegal alien truck drivers arrested were Illinois, California, and New York.

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