30 Indian truck drivers held in US immigration crackdown, face deportation

Around 30 Indian nationals living illegally in the United States and working as commercial truck drivers have been arrested in a federal immigration enforcement operation and are set to be deported, according to US authorities.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Border Patrol agents in Arizona's Yuma Sector arrested 52 undocumented individuals during "Operation Checkmate" conducted between May 11 and May 15. Among them were 36 people found operating semi-trucks despite lacking valid immigration status.

Of the 36 truck drivers arrested, 30 were Indian nationals. The remaining six were from Mexico, El Salvador and Russia. Authorities said the drivers held commercial driving licenses issued by states including California, New York, Washington and Virginia, while some did not possess any driving license.

According to CBP, most of those arrested carried employment authorization documents issued during the administration of former US President Joe Biden. However, officials said those documents were no longer valid. All individuals have been processed under federal law and will be deported.

Operation Checkmate was launched to strengthen public safety by enforcing immigration laws and identifying undocumented individuals operating commercial motor vehicles across the country.

"Operation Checkmate reflects our commitment to safeguarding communities and roads from unlawfully present drivers who pose significant risks to public safety," Dustin Caudle, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the US Border Patrol's Yuma Sector, said in a statement.

Caudle said federal agents remain on patrol every day to identify such drivers and prevent serious road accidents across the United States.

The arrests come as the administration of US President Donald Trump intensifies immigration enforcement measures. The Department of Transportation has issued orders aimed at preventing unqualified foreign drivers from obtaining licenses to operate commercial trucks and buses.

The issue has drawn increased scrutiny in recent months following several cases involving Indian-origin truck drivers who were arrested and charged in connection with fatal crashes while operating commercial vehicles in the US.