30 Indian truck drivers arrested for living and working illegally in US, to be deported
PTC News Desk: Around 30 Indian nationals living illegally in the United States have been arrested as part of a federal enforcement operation targeting undocumented commercial truck drivers and are expected to face deportation.
According to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector in Arizona carried out “Operation Checkmate” between May 11 and May 15, leading to the arrest of 52 people found to be unlawfully present in the country. Among them were 36 individuals operating semi-trucks.
Of the 36 truck drivers arrested, 30 were Indian citizens, while the remaining six were from Mexico, El Salvador and Russia. Authorities said the drivers held commercial licences issued by states including California, New York, Washington and Virginia, though some lacked any valid driver's licence.
"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."
Investigators found that most of the individuals possessed employment authorisation documents that had been issued during the previous administration but were no longer valid. CBP said all those arrested were processed under federal immigration laws and will be deported.
The operation was launched to improve public safety by enforcing immigration laws and identifying undocumented individuals working as commercial motor vehicle drivers across the United States.
- PTC NEWS
