LOS ANGELES, Dec 24 — U.S. immigration authorities have arrested 30 Indian nationals among 49 undocumented immigrants found driving semitrucks with commercial driver’s licenses during recent enforcement operations across California, officials said.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol agents in California’s El Centro Sector made the arrests during vehicle stops at immigration checkpoints and coordinated operations with federal partners.
Between Nov. 23 and Dec. 12, agents detained 42 undocumented drivers operating semitrucks on major highways or while traveling through immigration checkpoints.
“Of the individuals arrested, 30 were citizens of India,” CBP said, adding that others came from El Salvador, China, Eritrea, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Russia, Somalia, Turkey and Ukraine.
CBP said 31 of the commercial driver’s licenses were issued by California, while the rest came from states including Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois.
Authorities also cited Operation Highway Sentinel, a two-day, large-scale enforcement effort led by ICE Homeland Security Investigations, which targeted commercial trucking companies in Ontario and Fontana, California.
The operation resulted in 45 arrests, including five Indian nationals apprehended by Indio Station agents over the two days.
CBP said the crackdown followed multiple fatal highway accidents involving undocumented truck drivers. “This operation was launched to enforce immigration laws and protect the safety of the traveling public,” the agency said.
“The success of this operation highlights the ongoing dangers posed by the unmitigated border crisis we experienced prior to 2025,” said Joseph Remenar, acting chief patrol agent for the El Centro Sector. “El Centro Sector will continue to ensure that the safety of the American public is at the forefront of our efforts.”
Federal authorities pointed to recent cases involving Indian nationals accused of causing deadly crashes while driving heavy commercial vehicles, including incidents in California and Florida that resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries.
CBP said similar interagency operations will continue as part of efforts to regulate the commercial transportation sector and prevent further loss of life on U.S. highways.
