NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
El Centro, CA, December 24, 2025: U.S. Border Patrol agents have arrested 30 Indian nationals living in the United States without legal status after discovering they were operating semi-trucks with commercial driver’s licenses, authorities said this week.
The arrests were part of a broader immigration enforcement effort in California’s El Centro Sector, where agents apprehended 49 undocumented immigrants between November 23 and December 12, 2025, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The individuals were stopped at immigration checkpoints and during highway inspections while driving commercial vehicles.
Federal officials said the operation was launched in response to growing concerns over public safety and regulatory compliance in the commercial trucking industry. Authorities noted that individuals without lawful immigration status are not permitted to operate commercial motor vehicles under federal law.
Most of the commercial driver’s licenses involved in the case were issued by California, with others traced to states including Florida, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania. Officials are now examining how the drivers were able to obtain and use those licenses despite lacking legal authorization to work in the United States.
The enforcement action was carried out in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations as part of a targeted initiative focusing on commercial trucking operations.
Authorities said the crackdown follows a series of serious and fatal truck crashes in recent months involving undocumented drivers, incidents that have intensified scrutiny of licensing practices and employer compliance in the freight industry.
Those arrested are expected to face immigration proceedings. Federal officials emphasized that investigations into potential employer violations and licensing irregularities are ongoing.
The case has added a new dimension to the national debate over immigration enforcement, labor shortages in the trucking sector, and the responsibility of states and employers to ensure that commercial drivers meet both safety and legal requirements.
