Truck Driver Detained in Indiana Amid Immigration Crackdown

GARY, Ind. — A 29-year-old truck driver from Mauritania was detained by federal agents while on a delivery route on October 16, his wife said. Ahmed Nenni, who has a pending asylum claim, was stopped by officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Indiana State Police at a weigh station.

His wife, Elizabeth Nenni, a 24-year-old chiropractic assistant and U.S. citizen, told Newsweek that her husband has no criminal record and has been a law-abiding and tax-paying resident. “They came to Ahmed while he was out of his vehicle and directed him to follow them. Ahmed is a law-abiding individual, so he complied,” Elizabeth said.

According to DHS, Ahmed Nenni entered the U.S. unlawfully on September 15 and was later released under the Biden administration. He has a scheduled immigration court hearing in 2027 in New York. Elizabeth mentioned that she learned about her husband’s detention in a phone call, where he told her, “if anything happens, not to be scared.”

The recent detention of Nenni falls under a broader federal initiative known as “Operation Midway Blitz,” which aims to target undocumented drivers in the trucking industry. DHS reported that 140 migrant truck drivers have been arrested in this operation alone. Critics argue that such operations disproportionately affect migrant workers, while supporters believe they are necessary for public safety.

Elizabeth expressed concern for her husband’s treatment, stating that he was shackled during his arrest and denied access to basic necessities like food and water while in custody. “He has been treated less than a human,” she said, adding that he has been unable to eat properly due to dietary restrictions.

Ahmed has opted for voluntary deportation, which Elizabeth believes may be the only viable option under the circumstances. “I believe they do everything in their power to make living conditions so terrible that the detainees have no choice but to self-deport,” she said.

As the family’s situation unfolds, Elizabeth remains anxious and stressed, wishing for her husband’s swift return. “Every day I cry about our situation,” she concluded.