Trump Border Czar Targets Illegals In New Way

The Trump administration is stepping up its nationwide immigration enforcement efforts by partnering with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify illegal immigrants who obtained commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). Officials say the initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen border security, enforce federal immigration laws, and improve safety on America’s highways.

Border czar Tom Homan said the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation are coordinating with state police and highway patrol officers at weigh stations and commercial vehicle inspection sites to locate drivers who were allegedly issued commercial driver’s licenses despite lacking legal immigration status.

Speaking with Fox News on Tuesday, Homan said the administration is committed to enforcing immigration law and holding states accountable for complying with federal requirements.

“We’ve got a lot of people we’re looking for,” Homan said. “In some states, we’re working weigh stations with state troopers to identify these drivers as they travel through. President Trump is serious about this, and ICE is working alongside local and state law enforcement.”

Trump Administration Targets Improperly Issued Commercial Driver’s Licenses

According to Homan, federal officials believe nearly 200,000 noncitizens received commercial driver’s licenses from states even though they entered the United States illegally. The administration says identifying those individuals has become a priority as part of its broader immigration enforcement strategy.

The effort builds on actions already taken by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which announced in May that more than 28,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to individuals without lawful immigration status had been revoked nationwide over the previous year.

Administration officials argue that ensuring commercial drivers meet both federal licensing requirements and immigration laws is essential for maintaining public safety while protecting the integrity of the nation’s commercial transportation system.

Red States Cooperate While Some Blue States Resist

Homan said cooperation with federal immigration authorities has varied sharply across the country.

He praised many Republican-led states for working closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and DHS by sharing information and assisting with enforcement efforts.

However, he said several Democrat-controlled states have refused to provide access to Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) databases, making it more difficult for federal authorities to verify the immigration status of commercial driver’s license holders.

“The problem is we’re working very well with red states,” Homan said. “Blue states are still a struggle. Places like New York.”

According to Homan, ICE and CBP officials have encountered obstacles when requesting access to DMV records that could help identify individuals who may no longer be legally authorized to remain in the United States.

He also praised Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for pursuing legal action against jurisdictions that decline to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, saying additional lawsuits may be necessary to ensure compliance with federal law.

“We’re out there enforcing the law,” Homan said. “We’re out there looking for these illegal aliens with CDLs.”

Pennsylvania Trooper’s Death Renews Focus on Highway Safety

The administration’s renewed enforcement push comes days after the death of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Michael Pahira Jr., who was killed while conducting a commercial vehicle inspection along Interstate 81.

According to investigators, a tractor-trailer driven by 33-year-old Michael Bon veered off the roadway and struck the trooper during the roadside inspection.

Federal officials say Bon is a Haitian national who entered the United States through the Biden administration’s immigration parole program in July 2024.

The Department of Homeland Security said Bon later applied for Temporary Protected Status, but his request was denied. According to DHS, his immigration parole was terminated in June 2025, and he was ordered to leave the United States. Officials allege he remained in the country unlawfully after that order.

DHS also said Bon was living in Brockton, Massachusetts, where he obtained a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license and began working as a tractor-trailer driver.

Massachusetts Explains How the CDL Was Issued

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles officials said Bon initially qualified for the non-domiciled commercial driver’s license while he was legally authorized to work under federal immigration law.

According to state officials, he first applied for the license in March 2025. The CDL was later renewed before the Trump administration directed states to stop issuing or renewing non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses for individuals who no longer qualified under updated federal guidance.

The case has drawn renewed attention to how commercial driver’s licenses are issued and renewed for noncitizens, particularly as federal immigration policies have changed.

Criminal Charges Filed Against Truck Driver

Pennsylvania prosecutors have charged Bon with multiple offenses, including felony vehicular homicide, felony aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and several traffic violations related to reckless and careless driving.

The Department of Homeland Security has also lodged an immigration detainer requesting that Pennsylvania authorities transfer Bon to federal custody after the criminal case rather than release him.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16.

DHS Says Enforcement Will Continue

In a statement released Monday, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said the fatal crash illustrates why the administration believes immigration enforcement and commercial driver’s license requirements should be more closely aligned.

Bis said Bon entered the United States after being released under the Biden administration and later received a commercial driver’s license through Massachusetts before remaining in the country unlawfully after his immigration status changed.

She argued that stronger enforcement could help prevent similar tragedies and emphasized that the Trump administration intends to continue working with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify individuals who are not legally authorized to remain in the country.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to Trooper Pahira’s family, his fellow officers, and the Pennsylvania State Police as they mourn this devastating loss,” Bis said.

Immigration Enforcement Remains a Top Trump Administration Priority

The expanded CDL enforcement initiative reflects the Trump administration’s broader focus on immigration enforcement, border security, and cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Administration officials say highway inspections, partnerships with state police, and increased information sharing will continue as ICE, DHS, and other federal agencies work to identify individuals who may have improperly obtained commercial driver’s licenses while living in the United States unlawfully.

The administration maintains that enforcing immigration laws and strengthening commercial licensing standards are important steps toward improving public safety and restoring confidence in the nation’s immigration system.