US Customs and Border Protection said border patrol agents have arrested 30 Indian nationals living illegally in the United States for operating semitrucks using commercial driver’s licenses during recent enforcement operations in California.
According to CBP, the arrests were part of a broader crackdown targeting undocumented drivers operating commercial vehicles on US highways and at immigration checkpoints.
US Enforcement Operations Target Commercial Trucking
CBP said agents in the El Centro Sector arrested a total of 49 undocumented immigrants with commercial driver’s licenses during vehicle stops at checkpoints and joint operations with other agencies.
Between November 23 and December 12, agents apprehended 42 individuals driving semitrucks on interstate highways or while passing through immigration checkpoints. Of those arrested, 30 were Indian nationals, while others were from El Salvador, China, Eritrea, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Russia, Somalia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Commercial Licenses Issued by Multiple States
CBP said 31 of the commercial driver’s licenses involved in the arrests had been issued by California. Additional licenses were issued by Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington.
Authorities said the findings raised concerns about licensing oversight and enforcement across multiple states.
Operation Highway Sentinel Nets Dozens of Arrests
Some arrests occurred during Operation Highway Sentinel, a two-day joint enforcement operation conducted on December 10 and 11 in Ontario and Fontana, California.
The operation, led by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, resulted in the arrest of 45 undocumented individuals with commercial driver’s licenses.
CBP Cites Road Safety Concerns
CBP said the operation focused on commercial trucking companies following several fatal highway accidents involving undocumented drivers operating semitrucks. Officials said the goal was to enforce immigration laws, improve road safety and ensure compliance within the commercial transportation sector.
“The individuals arrested should never have been operating these semitrucks,” said El Centro Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Joseph Remenar, adding that public safety remains a priority.
Fatal Crashes Under Investigation
US authorities also cited recent cases involving Indian nationals driving commercial trucks while in the country illegally. In one case, Rajinder Kumar, 32, was charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment after a crash killed two people.
In other incidents, ICE lodged arrest detainers against Indian nationals accused of causing fatal or serious highway accidents in Florida and California.
