An initiative vy the Laredo Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol has led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 commercial driver’s licenses.
The Laredo Sector Texas Hold 'Em program has led to the cancellation of 1,053 CDLs since its inception in 2008. Of that number 848 were cancelled in connection with human smuggling cases, and 205 due to narcotics smuggling.
During the 2025 fiscal year, a total of 141 cancellations were submitted and cancelled in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety.
The Border Patrol said the Texas Hold'em initiative uses existing state laws to permanently revoke the CDL of any person who is convicted of felony smuggling transportation charges while operating a commercial motor vehicle. An increase in communication and shared information between law enforcement agencies and transportation stakeholders has proven to be a great success for the program, according to a statement from the agency.
Border Patrol agents assigned to the program conduct educational outreach to the transportation industry, freight forwarding agencies, custom brokers, and commercial drivers on a weekly basis.
The Texas Hold'em Initiative launched in June of 2008, as a joint multiagency enforcement effort between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Border Patrol.
