BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The Border Patrol is warning commercial truck drivers they could lose their licenses for life if convicted of a smuggling-related offense.
Representatives of the agency explained to a gathering of more than 80 truck drivers Friday in Brownsville that Texas law allows them to pursue cancellation of commercial driver's licenses.
A statement released Friday by Border Patrol said the initiative in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety has been dubbed "Texas Hold 'Em." Last fiscal year, nearly 70 cases were submitted for revocation following convictions for smuggling drugs or people.
Highways in South Texas, leading north from the U.S.-Mexico border, are major smuggling corridors. Both people and drugs are often hidden among shipments of legitimate goods.