ICE Arrests 114 in SC Highway Operations: Know Your Rights
In just three days, ICE and South Carolina police arrested 114 people on two major highways. The operations targeted truck drivers, immigration violations, and drug activity — and they show how quickly a routine traffic stop can turn into a deportation case. If you live or work in the Southeast, here is what you need to know.
114 Arrested in Two Days on South Carolina Highways
From May 12 to May 14, 2026, ICE ran two back-to-back enforcement operations along major South Carolina highways. The operations — called Operation Safe Drive and Operation Rubber Duck — resulted in 114 arrests for immigration and criminal violations. Agents also seized 10 kilograms of cocaine, worth an estimated $200,000, and made 145 vehicle stops.
Operation Safe Drive focused on Interstate 26. ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) — the division that carries out deportations — worked alongside the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the State Transit Police, and local police departments. The operation targeted unsafe drivers, immigration violations, and drug activity. Operation Rubber Duck ran along I-85 near Greer and was led by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a separate ICE division that investigates criminal networks. That operation focused specifically on fraudulent commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) and illegal truck drivers. Together, the two operations removed 22 drivers and vehicles from service and issued 89 traffic and safety citations.
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Immigrant rights, appeals and protective measures
ICE officials framed both operations as public safety efforts. "By working together, we are able to protect South Carolina families from the threats posed by criminal activity and unsafe drivers," said LaDeon Francis, the ERO Atlanta Field Office Director. The operations involved multiple state and local agencies, showing a growing pattern of local law enforcement partnering with federal immigration authorities — a trend that affects immigrants across the Southeast.
What This Means If You Drive for Work
If you drive a commercial truck or hold a CDL, these operations are a direct warning. Agents specifically targeted people with fraudulent licenses or illegal operator permits. An immigration arrest during a traffic stop can quickly lead to removal proceedings — the formal legal process that may end in deportation. You have rights during that process, including the right to a hearing before an immigration judge.
What to Do
- Know your ICE arrest rights. You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. You can say: "I am exercising my right to remain silent."
- Do not sign anything without a lawyer. Signing a voluntary departure form (an agreement to leave the US without a full hearing) waives important rights. You have up to 120 days for voluntary departure if granted by a judge — but only after consulting an attorney.
- Contact an immigration lawyer immediately. If you or someone you know was arrested, you have 30 days to appeal a removal order. Missing that deadline can end your case. Lawyers recommend acting within the first 24–48 hours.
- Look up free legal help. Organizations like CLINIC, AILA, and local legal aid societies offer low-cost or free consultations for people in removal proceedings.
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Anyone arrested in an operation like this should immediately invoke their right to remain silent and ask for an attorney — those two steps protect you from making statements that can be used against you in immigration court. If a removal order is issued, you have exactly 30 days to file an appeal, and missing that window is almost impossible to fix later. Do not sign any voluntary departure agreement before speaking with an immigration lawyer, because it may waive your right to a full hearing — consult an attorney before making any decisions.