36 Truck Drivers Arrested in Immigration Enforcement Operation

Key Details U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 36 commercial truck drivers during Operation Checkmate in Arizona's Yuma Sector from May 11-15. The targeted enforcement operation focused on identifying and apprehending individuals unlawfully present in the country who were operating semi-trucks. Why It Matters Of the 36 drivers arrested, 29 possessed valid commercial driver's licenses issued by California, New York, Washington, and Virginia. Thirty drivers were Indian citizens, while six came from Mexico, El Salvador, and Russia. This operation reflects increased federal scrutiny of CDL programs for non-U.S. citizens. Broader Crackdown Federal and state officials are stepping up oversight of commercial driver's license programs nationwide. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's revised rules for non-domiciled CDLs took effect March 16, limiting eligibility and requiring stronger state verification procedures. Several states including California, Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Ohio have paused or modified their non-domiciled CDL programs. Other States Taking Action Oklahoma's yearlong Operation Guardian identified over 600 truck drivers who were unlicensed, improperly trained, or in the country illegally. Investigators also uncovered criminal warrant holders and illegal "pop-up" trucking schools. Texas has issued more than 51,000 non-domiciled CDLs over the past decade, making it a major issuer.