A coordinated effort by various agencies in Arizona’s Yuma Sector recently resulted in the arrest of 95 truck drivers involved in illegal activities. This action targeted significant human and drug smuggling operations at the U.S. southern border.
According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), each of these drivers possessed state-issued commercial driver’s licenses. A majority of the licenses, 76 in total, were from California, followed by six from New York, with the remainder from various other states.
We are committed to protecting our citizens from all international threats, whether that is from unlicensed or untrained drivers, or transnational criminal organizations engaged in human or drug trafficking,
stated Acting Chief Patrol Agent Dustin Caudle. Despite a drop in immigration numbers since the end of 2024, some illegal activities persist at the border.
Recently, CBP has intercepted numerous smuggling attempts involving weapons, drugs, and humans. Notable incidents this year included stopping a car armed with a grenade launcher, discovering numerous immigrants packed into a semi-truck, and intercepting a boat near the Dominican Republic with assistance from a Black Hawk helicopter.
Trucking remains a prominent method to smuggle illicit goods and people into the country. In the operation conducted between August 10 and 14, officials halted two human smuggling operations, resulting in 21 arrests and the seizure of 74 pounds of methamphetamine and 169 pounds of marijuana. In total, the operation led to 143 arrests across 18 nationalities.
To prevent future occurrences, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is finalizing a regulation to restrict commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to holders of specific nonimmigrant visas such as H-2A, H-2B, and E-2. This effort aims to ensure stricter evaluations for applicants.
The rule will also prohibit the use of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) as proof of eligibility due to insufficient scrutiny in their approval process.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the importance of public safety. Moving forward, unqualified foreign drivers will be unable to get a license to operate an 80,000-pound big rig, he declared. Under the Trump administration’s policies, standards such as language requirements and accountability for fraudulent carriers are critical components of addressing this road safety issue.