Approximately 30 Indian nationals accused of living and working illegally in the United States as commercial truck drivers have been arrested in Arizona and are set to be deported, according to a report by PTI.
The arrests were carried out under ‘Operation Checkmate’, an enforcement initiative led by US Customs and Border Protection aimed at identifying individuals unlawfully residing in the country who are operating commercial vehicles.
Authorities said the operation is designed to enhance road safety by enforcing immigration laws and removing drivers deemed unqualified from American highways.
In a statement released on Monday, US Customs and Border Protection said agents from the Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector arrested 52 individuals during the operation, which took place between May 11 and May 15. According to PTI, 36 of those detained were found to be driving semi-trucks.
Among the 36 commercial drivers arrested, 30 were Indian nationals, while the remaining six were citizens of Mexico, El Salvador and Russia. The drivers possessed commercial driving licences issued in states such as California, New York, Washington and Virginia, although some reportedly had no driving licence at all.
PTI reported that most of those detained held employment authorisation documents that had been issued during the administration of former President Joe Biden but were no longer valid. Authorities said all individuals were processed under federal law and would be deported.
“Operation Checkmate reflects our commitment to safeguarding communities and roads from unlawfully present drivers who pose significant risks to public safety,” Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the US Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector Dustin Caudle said.
Federal agents are on patrol every day to “ensure we stop these individuals and prevent more deadly crashes from occurring on the road across the United States,” he added.
The operation comes as the administration of President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to prevent unqualified foreign nationals from obtaining licences required to operate commercial trucks and buses. The Department of Transportation recently issued measures aimed at tightening licensing requirements for such drivers.
According to PTI, the enforcement action follows a number of recent incidents involving Indian-origin truck drivers who were arrested and charged in connection with fatal crashes while driving commercial vehicles in the United States. Authorities have cited those cases as examples of the potential public safety concerns posed by unqualified drivers operating on American roads.
