The arrested immigrant truckers had commercial licenses issued by different states.
The case comes as the federal government tightens controls on foreigners driving trucks.
An operation in Arizona ended with the arrest of 95 immigrant truckers who had commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) issued by states, according to Fox News, citing CBP.
A multi-agency operation in Arizona’s Yuma Sector led to the arrest of 95 illegal immigrant truck drivers, according to @CBP. Officials say all had obtained state-issued commercial driver’s licenses—most from California—and the operation also resulted in human smuggling arrests,…
— Erik Hoffmann (@TheErikHoffmann) August 31, 2026
The arrests occurred between August 10 and 14 in the Yuma, Arizona sector during a multi-agency operation.
Of the 95 truckers, 76 had licenses issued by California, six by New York, and the rest had CDLs from other states, according to CBP.
Authorities also reported two cases of human trafficking. Four alleged traffickers were arrested, and 17 immigrants being transported were found.
Agents also seized 74 pounds of methamphetamine and 169 pounds of marijuana during the operation.
However, these results correspond to the general operation. The provided information does not automatically attribute the cases of drugs or human trafficking to the 95 truckers.
95 Immigrant Truckers Arrested in Arizona – PHOTO: Referential image recreated with AI The rules for non-domiciled CDLs became considerably stricter on March 16, 2026.
The FMCSA establishes that only foreigners with legal H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 immigration status can currently obtain a non-domiciled CDL or commercial permit.
This does not mean that all immigrants are limited to these categories. Permanent residents domiciled in a state can apply for a standard CDL if they meet the other requirements.
Another change directly affects foreign workers: an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is no longer sufficient on its own to demonstrate eligibility for a non-domiciled CDL.
A previous license does not necessarily disappear just because its holder no longer belongs to the currently authorized categories.
For example, FMCSA notes that a non-domiciled CDL correctly issued earlier to a DACA beneficiary does not have to be revoked solely due to the new rules.
FMCSA also recommends that states review existing non-domiciled licenses and revoke those that did not comply with applicable regulations when they were issued.
The Arizona case comes after another federal offensive. Between July 28 and 30, Operation Highway Shield conducted inspections on highways with the participation of ICE/HSI, FMCSA, and state police.
According to DHS, that operation detained 51 immigrants, including 21 drivers with non-domiciled CDLs issued by California and New York.
The operations show that foreign truckers now face simultaneous controls on road safety, license requirements, and immigration status.
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SOURCE: FOX News / DHS Department of state / FMCSA
