US: 30 Indians allegedly working illegally as truck drivers arrested, to be deported

Thirty Indians who were allegedly working illegally in the United States as commercial truck drivers were arrested in a federal enforcement operation and are expected to be deported, the US authorities said on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the US Customs and Border Protection, patrol agents from the Yuma Sector in Arizona arrested 52 persons during “Operation Checkmate” between May 11 and May 15 for being in the country illegally.

Of those arrested, 36 were found driving semi-trucks. Thirty were Indian nationals, while the remaining six were from Mexico, El Salvador and Russia.

Most held commercial driving licences issued by states including California, New York, Washington and Virginia, though some did not possess any driving licence, the agency said.

“Most subjects possessed Employment Authorization Documents, which were obtained during the Biden administration and are no longer valid,” the statement added.

The operation was aimed at enhancing public safety by detecting persons “who pose significant risks to public safety”, Acting Chief Patrol Agent Dustin W Caudle said.

The agency also said that under President Donald Trump, the Department of Transportation had introduced a rule intended to prevent unqualified foreign drivers from obtaining licences to operate commercial trucks and buses.

In recent months, several incidents have been reported in which Indian-origin truck drivers in the US...

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