Brazilian man operating a semi truck with no CDL arrested during detail on I-81 in Virginia

A man was arrested for illegally operating a tractor-trailer during an enforcement operation on a Virginia interstate.

On June 17, 2026, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of Lins Dos Santos-Melo.

ICE said that Dos Santos-Melo was place under administrative arrest on May 27 during an enforcement operation on I-81 in Virginia.

Officials said that Dos Santos-Melo is a Brazilian citizen who is present in the U.S. illegally.

“Dos Santos-Melo possessed a valid Massachusetts driver’s license but did not have a commercial driver’s license, which is required for the vehicle and trailer combination he was operating,” ICE said.

“Commercial driver’s license requirements exist for a reason,” said acting ICE Director David J. Venturella. “When someone gets behind the wheel of a vehicle this size without the training and qualifications required by law, they’re putting every family sharing that roadway at risk. Lins Dos Santos-Melo had no legal basis to remain in the United States and no legal authority to operate that vehicle. ICE will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify and remove those who disregard our immigration laws and public safety laws.”