Border Patrol agents in California's El Centro Sector have arrested 49 individuals found to be in the country illegally who were also holding commercial driver’s licenses. These arrests occurred during recent vehicle stops at immigration checkpoints and through interagency operations.
Between November 23 and December 12, agents from the Indio Station detained 42 people operating semitrucks while traveling on interstate highways or passing through checkpoints on Highways 86 and 111. Of those apprehended, most were from India (30), with others originating from El Salvador, China, Eritrea, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Russia, Somalia, Turkey, and Ukraine. The majority of the commercial driver’s licenses were issued by California (31), while others came from states including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
"El Centro Sector personnel are stalwart defenders of our nation’s security, whether that occurs at the border or in the interior of the United States," said El Centro Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Joseph Remenar. "Since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2026, El Centro Sector’s arrests of individuals in the interior have surpassed those at the border, directly illustrating what can be accomplished when a secure border is achieved."
Additionally, on December 10 and 11 agents took part in Operation Highway Sentinel—an enforcement effort led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations—in Ontario and Fontana. This operation resulted in a total of 45 arrests involving illegal aliens with commercial driver’s licenses; Indio Station agents made seven of these arrests over two days.
Operation Highway Sentinel focused on trucking companies after several fatal accidents involved drivers who had received commercial driver’s licenses despite being ineligible due to their immigration status. The initiative aimed to enforce immigration laws within this sector as well as uphold safety standards for U.S. highways.
"The success of this operation highlights the ongoing dangers posed by the unmitigated border crisis we experienced prior to 2025," said Remenar. "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."
More information about U.S. Customs and Border Protection activities can be found at www.cbp.gov.
