About 30 Indian nationals working illegally as commercial truck drivers in the US have been arrested by US Border Patrol agents as part of a federal immigration enforcement crackdown dubbed ‘Operation Checkmate’.
The individuals are expected to face deportation proceedings.According to a statement issued by US Customs and Border Protection on Monday, a total of 52 people were arrested during the operation, which took place from May 11 to 15 in Yuma, Arizona. Of these, 36 people were found operating commercial semi-trucks while residing illegally in the country.The operation was launched to enhance public safety by enforcing immigration laws and identifying illegal immigrants who work as commercial vehicle drivers.
This comes amid the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration.US authorities said that at least 30 of the 36 truck drivers arrested were Indian citizens. The remaining six are from Mexico, El Salvador and Russia. Some had commercial driver’s licenses issued by states including California, New York, Washington and Virginia, while others reportedly did not have valid driver’s licenses.Officials said many of those detained possess work permit documents obtained during the Biden administration, but the permits are no longer valid.
All 52 individuals have been processed under federal law and are scheduled for removal from the United States.Operation Checkmate was launched to enhance public safety by enforcing immigration laws and identifying undocumented individuals operating commercial vehicles throughout the United States.“Operation Checkmate reflects our commitment to protecting communities and roadways from illegally located drivers who pose significant risks to public safety,” said Dustin Caudle, Acting Chief Patrol Agent for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector.Federal agents are still patrolling every day to identify these drivers and prevent potentially fatal accidents on roads across the country, Caudle said.This operation comes amid a widespread campaign by the Trump administration on illegal immigration. Earlier, the Department of Transportation issued an order aimed at preventing ineligible foreign citizens from obtaining licenses to operate commercial trucks and buses in the United States.In recent months, several Indian-origin truck drivers have been arrested and charged in connection with fatal road accidents involving commercial vehicles in various parts of the United States.