
A Chinese government-tied network is secretly training illegal immigrants to obtain commercial driver’s licenses and infiltrate America’s trucking industry, raising alarming national security concerns about foreign control over critical supply chain infrastructure.
Story Highlights
- Chinese government-linked organizations operating covert CDL training programs for illegal immigrants across multiple U.S. cities
- CATOU and Red Apple Group identified as key players providing instruction and support to undocumented Chinese nationals
- Network exploits regulatory gaps and driver shortages to place foreign nationals in critical infrastructure roles
- DOT announces stricter enforcement after fatal crashes involving noncitizen drivers earlier in 2025
Foreign Infiltration of America’s Supply Chain
Exclusive reporting reveals a sophisticated Chinese government-tied network actively training illegal immigrants to obtain commercial driver’s licenses and secure employment in America’s trucking industry. The operation utilizes organizations like CATOU (Chinese American Truckers of the United States) and Red Apple Group’s New York office as training centers. This coordinated effort represents unprecedented foreign involvement in a sector vital to U.S. national security and economic stability, exploiting America’s chronic driver shortage to embed undocumented workers throughout the supply chain.
Evidence of Organized Training Operations
Social media evidence and undercover reporting document organized training sessions conducted in Chinese language across New York and other major cities. The network provides comprehensive support including CDL instruction, job placement assistance, and navigation of licensing requirements despite participants’ illegal immigration status. Chinese-language social media posts advertise these services directly to recent arrivals, demonstrating the systematic nature of this foreign influence operation targeting America’s transportation infrastructure.
Regulatory Response After Fatal Crashes
The Department of Transportation implemented stricter rules for noncitizen truck drivers following fatal crashes in Florida, Texas, and Alabama involving immigrant truckers earlier in 2025. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized enhanced immigration status verification requirements and threatened federal funding cuts for noncompliant states. The American Trucking Association and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association supported these enforcement measures, citing safety and accountability concerns that have plagued the industry.
This foreign network’s activities coincide with broader U.S.-China tensions and represent a direct threat to transportation security. The operation exploits regulatory gaps that allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain CDLs through fraudulent means, undermining both immigration law and public safety standards that protect American families on the roads.
National Security Implications
The Chinese government’s alleged involvement in systematically placing illegal immigrants throughout America’s trucking network poses severe national security risks beyond simple immigration violations. This coordinated infiltration of critical infrastructure could enable supply chain disruption, intelligence gathering, or worse during potential conflicts. The operation demonstrates how foreign adversaries exploit America’s labor shortages and regulatory weaknesses to gain strategic positions within essential sectors, threatening both economic stability and homeland security through control over goods movement across the nation.
Sources:
Transportation Department Tightens Noncitizen Truck Driver Rules After Fatal Crash in Florida
EXCLUSIVE: Chinese Gov’t-Tied Network Training Illegal Immigrants To Drive Big Rigs In US
EXCLUSIVE: Chinese Gov’t-Tied Network Training Illegal Immigrants Drive Big Rigs
Chinese Gov’t-Tied Network Training Illegal Immigrants to Drive Big Rigs in US