Texas to Strip Smugglers of CDLs

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) announced an initiative to strip licenses from Texas truck drivers convicted of smuggling illegal weapons, drugs or humans into the United States, the Associated Press reported.

Perry said the “Texas Hold ’Em” program announced late last week will include revoking commercial driver’s licenses from truckers convicted of felony smuggling, AP reported.

The initiative also creates hotline and rewards programs for information leading to felony smuggling convictions.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol are working together on the initiative, AP said.

In the first eight months of this fiscal year, U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted 423 tractor-trailers carrying more than 1,800 undocumented immigrants and more than 112,000 pounds of drugs, AP reported.