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U.S. authorities arrest 30 Indian truck drivers in Arizona raid
Operation Checkmate targeted commercial vehicle operators alleged to be in the U.S. illegally, federal authorities said.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 02, Jun 2026
- 16:52 EDT
- 42
Representative image / Pexels
Thirty Indian nationals were among 36 commercial truck drivers arrested during a U.S. Border Patrol operation in Arizona aimed at identifying individuals allegedly in the country illegally who were operating commercial motor vehicles, federal authorities said.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), agents from the Yuma Sector arrested 52 individuals during “Operation Checkmate,” conducted between May 11 and May 15. Of those arrested, 36 were driving semi-trucks.
Also Read: ICE seeks deportation of Indian hit-and-run suspect
CBP said 30 of the arrested truck drivers were Indian nationals. The remaining six were citizens of Mexico, El Salvador and Russia. Most of the individuals carried Employment Authorization Documents that officials said had been issued during the Biden administration and were no longer valid.
Authorities said 29 of the 36 truck drivers possessed commercial driver's licenses issued by states including California, New York, Washington and Virginia, while three did not possess any form of driver's license.
All 52 individuals were processed under federal law and are expected to be deported, according to the agency.
“Operation Checkmate reflects our commitment to safeguarding communities and roads from unlawfully present drivers who pose significant risks to public safety,” said Dustin W. Caudle, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector.
“My 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,” Caudle added.
The operation was part of a broader effort by Border Patrol to enforce immigration laws involving commercial vehicle operators. CBP said Operation Checkmate is intended to enhance public safety by detecting and arresting individuals operating commercial motor vehicles while allegedly lacking lawful immigration status.
The agency also cited a recent Department of Transportation rule backed by the Trump administration that it said would prevent unqualified foreign drivers from obtaining licenses to operate commercial trucks and buses.
CBP said it is working with federal partners to enforce immigration and transportation laws and strengthen oversight of the commercial trucking industry.
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