INDIO, CALIFORNIA — U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Indio Station worked with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Transportation at the Highway 86 checkpoint throughout August and September, inspecting at least 196 commercial drivers and issuing 57 citations. CBP released the results on October 20.
Drivers and vehicles were inspected for immigration, transportation, and transportation-safety violations. The 57 citations covered English-language proficiency, hours-of-service logbooks, and vehicle equipment. Twenty-seven drivers were placed out of service.
Agents also found two commercial drivers who violated the conditions of their temporary visitor visas through prohibited shipping activity. One was processed accordingly. The other was processed for voluntary return and had his Border Crossing Card revoked.
The operations led to two arrests. A Haitian national was arrested after the revocation of his Temporary Protected Status and transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations for further processing. A U.S. citizen semi-truck driver with an active, extraditable Texas warrant for a parole violation was arrested and transferred to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office for extradition.
The agencies said the joint operations were meant to strengthen commercial vehicle enforcement by addressing immigration, transportation, and vehicle safety violations together.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
