YUMA, Ariz. — A total of 36 commercial truck drivers were apprehended during a week-long operation conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP).
Operation Checkmate was conducted by agents from Yuma Sector, and arrested a total of 52 individuals from May 11 through May 15 for being in the U.S. illegally, of which 36 were driving semi-trucks.
“Operation Checkmate enhances public safety through enforcement of immigration statutes aimed at the detection and arrest of illegal aliens operating commercial motor vehicles,” a press release announcing the arrests stated.
Of the 36 illegal alien semi-truck drivers arrested, CBP said 29 were in possession of commercial driver’s licenses from states including California, New York, Washington, and Virginia. CBP said three did not possess any form of driver’s license. Thirty of the individuals were from India, while the remaining six were from Mexico, El Salvador, and Russia.
CBP added that “most subjects possessed Employment Authorization Documents, which were obtained during the Biden administration and are no longer valid. All individuals were processed in accordance with federal law and will be deported.”
“Operation Checkmate reflects our commitment to safeguarding communities and roads from unlawfully present drivers who pose significant risks to public safety,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector Dustin W. Caudle. “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.”
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
