Florida announces 23 commercial vehicle ‘interdiction checkpoints’ in crackdown on illegal immigration and English language proficiency violations in trucking
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the state will take action to crack down on “illegal aliens who may be operating large trucks using out-of-state driver’s licenses.”
On Monday, August 25, 2025, Uthmeier announced a series of actions targeting the commercial trucking industry and commercial driver’s licensing (CDL) standards amid ongoing public scrutiny of an August 12 triple fatality crash on the Florida Turnpike allegedly caused by an illegal U-turn taken by Harjinder Singh.
States like California and Washington ignored the rules, gave an illegal alien a license to drive a 40-ton truck, and three people are dead as a result. A preventable tragedy due to sanctuary state policies.
In response, we’re supporting our Agricultural Law Enforcement and… pic.twitter.com/O5nLIFFb2H
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) August 25, 2025
Ag Enforcement Officers To Man CMV Interdiction Stations Under ICE Direction
Uthmeier and other law enforcement agencies announced that Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) agents will be “stationing at interdiction checkpoints to work together with federal and state partners on immigration enforcement and checking for English proficiency for commercial drivers while continuing agricultural inspections.”
Officials say that “these interdiction stations, which are distinct from Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) weigh stations, will serve as critical enforcement points to stop human smuggling, fraudulent documents, and unsafe commercial vehicles.”
“The crash on the Florida Turnpike tragically took the lives of three Floridians and was a completely preventable consequence of illegal immigration and sanctuary-state policies. It is also a reminder of why the work of our law enforcement community to combat illegal immigration is so critical,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “With 23 inspection stations on Florida roadways and 100 percent of our officers being certified in the 287(g) Program, Agricultural Law Enforcement officers are uniquely skilled and positioned to help prevent another tragedy and be a force multiplier in the fight against illegal immigration and criminal activity.”
The 287(g) Program allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and oversight.”
“By targeting criminal illegal aliens who undermine the safety and integrity of U.S. immigration laws, the 287(g) program strengthens homeland security,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Acting Executive Associate Director Garrett Ripa. “We appreciate the Attorney General’s support and welcome our newest 287(g) partnership with FDACS as we continue to reinforce the rule of law in Florida.”
Florida AG Asks USDOT To Revoke CDL Authority From Washington & California
In addition to the new commercial vehicle interdiction stations, Uthmeier also announced that he is sending a formal letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration “urging the federal government to revoke CDL program authority and strip related federal funding from California and Washington following the deadly crash on August 12th, 2025, that claimed three lives.”
Uthmeier pointed to the fact that Singh failed an English proficiency test administered in the wake of the crash, and blamed Washington and California for issuing Singh a CDL.
“States like California and Washington ignored the rules, gave an illegal alien a license to drive a 40-ton truck, and three people are dead as a result. A preventable tragedy due to sanctuary state policies,” said Uthmeier. “In response, we’re supporting our Agricultural Law Enforcement and state police to ramp up inspections at state entry-points for illegal aliens who may be operating large trucks using out-of-state driver’s licenses. If you’re here illegally or can’t speak English, you have no business operating large commercial vehicles on Florida’s roads. We commend Commissioner Simpson and his department’s 287(g) certified law enforcement officers for turning Florida’s interdiction stations into strongholds of immigration enforcement. Together, we will ensure dangerous drivers are taken off the road and criminals serve their time before deportation.”