Border Patrol agents apprehended a commercial truck at an inland checkpoint close to Blythe, California. They found that the driver, a 25-year-old Indian national holding a valid commercial license from New York, was illegally in the United States.
“The Bryce Police Department officials determined that this driver was undocumented and took him into custody for immigration violations. He faces deportation under 8 U.S.C. 1182 for inadmissibility,” noted the Yuma District Chief Patrol Agent in a post on X.
This incident occurs amid ongoing legal disputes surrounding the Department of Transportation’s rules that affect undocumented immigrants trying to obtain commercial driver’s licenses.
On Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized a court decision that rejected an attempt by the Trump administration to prevent undocumented immigrants from securing commercial licenses.
Duffy emphasized, “I’m not going to sugarcoat this situation. We’re committed to doing everything possible to ensure the safety of the American public.”
His remarks followed a federal appeals court ruling in Washington, D.C., which stated last Thursday that the Department of Transportation’s restrictions shouldn’t be enforced.
These regulatory measures were instated after Harjinder Singh, an undocumented truck driver, was accused of causing a crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, that resulted in three fatalities.
Judges indicated that the federal government had failed to adequately justify the rule or demonstrate its effectiveness in promoting safety. They also pointed out that data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows that immigrants make up approximately 5% of commercial driver’s licenses but are involved in only 0.2% of fatal accidents.
Duffy attributed the current situation largely to policies of the Biden administration, suggesting that it has contributed to a surge in undocumented immigrants getting work permits and consequently pursuing commercial licenses.
“People are dying,” he insisted, adding that protective measures should have been put in place immediately without delays. “The court, however, wasn’t convinced it was an urgent matter and demanded more data.” He expressed frustration, saying, “If you watch the news, you see the risks to the American public.”
