Terrorist Gets Job, CDL in Josh Shapiro's PA

ICE Nabs Wanted Uzbek Terror Suspect Hauling Freight on Kansas Highways

Washington, D.C. – November 17, 2025  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended a 31-year-old Uzbek national wanted on international terrorism charges while he operated an 18-wheeler semi-truck along the nation's interstates. The arrest of Akhror Bozorov, confirmed Monday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Fox News, underscores ongoing debates over vetting processes under the previous administration and the swift enforcement actions now underway.

Bozorov, who entered the United States illegally and was promptly released back into the interior by border officials in February 2023, had evaded detection for nearly two years. During that time, he secured work authorization from federal authorities in January 2024 and obtained a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ICE agents took him into custody on November 9 in Kansas, where he was employed as a commercial truck driver, hauling cargo in a vehicle capable of carrying massive loads across state lines.Uzbek authorities issued an arrest warrant for Bozorov in 2022, accusing him of membership in a designated terrorist organization. Prosecutors there allege he actively distributed extremist propaganda, issued online calls for jihad, and recruited individuals to join violent causes. "This individual represents exactly the kind of national security threat that lax border policies can unleash," said a DHS spokesperson, emphasizing the gravity of allowing such a figure behind the wheel of heavy machinery.

The case has ignited bipartisan scrutiny, with critics pointing to systemic failures in screening and monitoring. Bozorov's seamless integration into the U.S. workforce—complete with legal employment status and a state-issued license—highlights gaps in interagency coordination between federal immigration enforcers and state licensing boards. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's administration has not yet commented on how Bozorov passed the required background checks for his CDL, though officials in Harrisburg are reportedly reviewing the matter.

In a pointed statement provided exclusively to Fox News via DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the department laid bare its assessment of the incident's origins: "Not only was Akhror Bozorov—a wanted terrorist—RELEASED into the country by the Biden administration, but he was also given a commercial driver’s license by Governor Shapiro’s Pennsylvania. This should go without saying, but terrorist illegal aliens should not be operating 18-wheelers on America’s highways. Biden and Mayorkas allowed countless terrorists to come into our country. President Trump and Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to target these national security threats."

The remarks, delivered with unfiltered candor, reflect the Trump administration's aggressive pivot toward interior enforcement just weeks into its term. Since January, ICE has ramped up operations targeting individuals with prior border encounters and flagged security risks, deporting hundreds in high-profile sweeps. Bozorov's capture marks one of the earliest successes in this renewed mandate, coming amid heightened alerts over potential terrorist incursions via the southern border.Immigration advocates, while decrying the rhetoric, have called for a balanced approach that distinguishes between isolated cases and broader policy reforms. "Releasing someone at the border without full vetting is concerning, but painting all migrants with the same brush does a disservice to the millions who contribute positively," said Maria Gonzalez, executive director of the American Immigration Council. Still, the incident has fueled calls from congressional Republicans for congressional hearings into DHS's pre-2025 release protocols, with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan vowing to subpoena records on Bozorov's entry.

As Bozorov awaits deportation proceedings in federal custody, his story serves as a cautionary flashpoint in the national conversation on security. With America's vast highway network serving as the lifeblood of commerce, the image of an alleged jihadist recruiter at the helm of a tractor-trailer has struck a nerve, prompting questions about just how many similar risks may lurk undetected. For now, ICE officials assure the public that enhanced screening measures—bolstered by international intelligence-sharing—are closing the loopholes, one arrest at a time. 17GEN4.com