UNITED STATES — ICE has announced multiple arrests involving commercial drivers at travel stops and inspection checkpoints as federal agencies continue focusing on immigration enforcement and commercial driver licensing practices.
The recent arrests were reported in New Jersey and New Hampshire and come after federal officials outlined plans involving immigration officers, transportation inspectors, and state police at weigh stations and commercial vehicle inspection locations.
Two CDL Operators Arrested in New Jersey
ICE Newark said officers arrested two Uzbek citizens on Aug. 23 during separate targeted enforcement actions in New Jersey.
Officials said Zokhid Zakhidov, 37, was arrested in Woodbridge, New Jersey.
According to ICE, Zakhidov was unlawfully present in the United States and possessed a New York commercial learner’s permit.
ICE said Zakhidov’s record included a May 15 conviction for driving while intoxicated in New York, as well as pending charges from Jan. 26 for assault with intent to cause physical injury and harassment.
The agency also said Cranbury, New Jersey, police arrested him April 28 as a fugitive from justice.
Zakhidov remains in federal immigration custody pending removal proceedings, according to ICE.
Second Driver Held Pending Removal
ICE identified the second man as Khayrullo Payzullaev, 30.
Officers arrested Payzullaev in Hamilton, New Jersey.
According to ICE, Payzullaev was unlawfully present in the United States and held a Pennsylvania non-domiciled commercial driver’s license.
The agency said a Philadelphia immigration judge ordered his detention on July 21.
Payzullaev remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
New Hampshire Arrest at Inspection Station
In New Hampshire, ICE Boston said officers arrested Satvir Singh on Sept. 11 during targeted operations in Hillsborough.
The agency described Singh as an Indian national and interstate truck driver who was encountered at a commercial vehicle inspection station.
According to ICE, Singh entered the United States legally in 2017 but later violated the terms of his admission.
Federal Plans Identify Weigh Stations
The arrests come after a federal announcement on Aug. 31 identified weigh stations as part of planned and ongoing Enforcement and Removal Operations activities.
The announcement described an Aug. 25 to Aug. 27 operation coordinated by ICE’s Chicago field office with Indiana State Police that focused on weigh station locations.
Federal officials also outlined plans for an enforcement surge in Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin involving immigration officers and FMCSA-certified inspectors at commercial vehicle enforcement and inspection checkpoints.
Named Operations Target Commercial Drivers
Federal officials identified several enforcement efforts involving commercial vehicles and trucking.
Operation ICE Wall targets companies and drivers with final removal orders, prior removals, or reinstated removal orders.
Guardrail focuses on people holding commercial driver’s licenses whom ICE identifies as unlawfully present.
Freightliner coordinates federal agencies and 287(g) partners to identify people operating commercial vehicles in violation of law.
Licensing Practices Under Scrutiny
Federal officials have also announced investigations into suspected fraud involving about 75 entry-level driver training schools.
The Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland Security said FMCSA identified concerns involving improper certifications, falsified records, and providers allegedly failing to properly train commercial license applicants.
Homeland Security Investigations is assisting FMCSA with those cases.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy previously cited enforcement totals that included more than 24,000 drivers removed from service for failing English-language requirements.
He also said states had canceled more than 28,000 licenses that authorities said were illegally issued to foreign applicants, and that FMCSA had removed more than 9,500 unqualified schools from its training provider registry.
No Confirmed Fraud Link in Recent Arrests
The federal announcements describe both immigration enforcement and investigations into commercial licensing practices.
However, the available statements do not establish licensing fraud by the three men arrested in New Jersey and New Hampshire.
The statements also do not confirm that those arrests were connected to the driver training school investigations.
Additional confirmation from ICE would be needed before linking each arrest to a specific named operation.
Why It Matters for Carriers
The recent cases show that truck stops, weigh stations, and inspection stations are becoming enforcement points for immigration-related commercial driver investigations.
For motor carriers, checking a commercial driver’s license alone may not answer every question about a driver’s qualifications, legal status, or employment eligibility.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
