US border patrol arrests 30 Indian nationals in California for illegal trucking operations

Highlights:

• 30 Indian nationals arrested for operating semitrucks while living illegally in the U.S.
• Arrests took place in California during routine checkpoints and joint enforcement operations
• Operation Highway Sentinel led to 45 additional arrests statewide
• Authorities link enforcement to recent fatal trucking accidents
• CBP criticizes states for issuing commercial driver’s licenses improperly

U.S. Border Patrol agents have arrested 30 Indian nationals living illegally in the United States after discovering they were operating semitrucks using commercial driver’s licenses, federal authorities said. The arrests were part of a broader enforcement effort in California targeting undocumented truck drivers amid growing concerns about public safety.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), agents in the El Centro Sector apprehended a total of 49 undocumented immigrants holding commercial driver’s licenses during vehicle stops at immigration checkpoints and through coordinated interagency operations. The arrests occurred between November 23 and December 12.

During that period, Border Patrol agents stopped and apprehended 42 undocumented individuals operating semitrucks on interstate highways or while passing through immigration checkpoints. Of those arrested, 30 were Indian nationals. The remaining individuals came from El Salvador, China, Eritrea, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Russia, Somalia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

CBP said 31 of the commercial driver’s licenses involved were issued by the state of California. Additional licenses were issued by Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Federal officials also pointed to Operation Highway Sentinel, a large-scale, two-day joint enforcement effort conducted on December 10 and 11. The operation was led by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Ontario and Fontana, California, with participation from Border Patrol agents at the Indio Station.

Operation Highway Sentinel resulted in 45 arrests of undocumented individuals holding commercial driver’s licenses. On the first day of the operation, Indio Station agents apprehended two individuals, one Indian national and one Tajik national. On the second day, agents arrested four Indian nationals and one Uzbek national.

The operation specifically targeted commercial trucking companies operating in California. CBP said the initiative was launched after several fatal highway accidents were linked to undocumented individuals who had been issued commercial driver’s licenses and were driving semitrucks at the time of the crashes.

“The success of this operation highlights the ongoing dangers posed by the unmitigated border crisis we experienced prior to 2025,” El Centro Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Joseph Remenar said.

“The individuals arrested should never have been operating these semitrucks, and the states issuing them commercial driver's licenses are directly responsible for the fatal accidents we have tragically witnessed recently. Together, with our allied partners in Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies, El Centro Sector will continue to ensure that the safety of the American public is at the forefront of our efforts.”

Authorities cited several recent cases involving Indian nationals who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally and were later involved in serious or fatal trucking accidents. In one case, Rajinder Kumar, 32, was charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment after a crash killed two people. In separate incidents, ICE lodged arrest detainers against Harjinder Singh, Partap Singh, and Jashanpreet Singh following fatal or severe crashes involving commercial trucks in Florida and California.

Federal officials say enforcement efforts will continue as agencies work to uphold immigration laws and improve safety in the commercial transportation sector.