More than 30 Indian nationals are set to be deported from the United States after being arrested for living in the country illegally and working as commercial truck drivers during a major federal immigration enforcement operation.
The arrests were made as part of “Operation Checkmate”, a joint crackdown carried out by the US Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector in Arizona between May 11 and May 15. According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), authorities detained 52 undocumented immigrants during the operation, including 36 individuals who were employed as semi-truck drivers.
Among those arrested, 30 were Indian citizens. The remaining drivers were from Mexico, El Salvador and Russia.
Investigators found that many of the drivers possessed commercial driving licences issued by various US states, including California, New York, Washington and Virginia. Some, however, were operating commercial vehicles without any valid driving licence.
Officials said several of those arrested were carrying employment authorisation documents that had either expired or were no longer legally valid. All 36 drivers were processed under federal immigration laws and are expected to be removed from the country.
Focus on Commercial Vehicle Safety
US authorities said Operation Checkmate was launched to identify undocumented immigrants working in the commercial transportation sector and to prevent potential safety risks on American highways.
“Operation Checkmate reflects our commitment to protecting communities and ensuring that individuals who are unlawfully present in the country are not operating large commercial vehicles on our roads,” said Dustin Caudle, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Yuma Sector.
He added that federal agents are conducting regular enforcement actions to prevent accidents and strengthen road safety across the United States.
Tougher Rules Under Trump Administration
The crackdown comes amid a broader push by the administration of President Donald Trump to tighten immigration enforcement and strengthen oversight of the commercial trucking industry.
The US Department of Transportation has recently introduced measures aimed at preventing unqualified foreign nationals from obtaining licences to operate commercial trucks and buses.
Authorities have also pointed to several recent cases involving foreign-born truck drivers who were arrested after being linked to serious and, in some instances, fatal road accidents.
The latest operation highlights Washington’s increasing focus on immigration enforcement within critical sectors of the economy, including transportation and logistics, where officials say public safety remains a top priority.