A U.S. Border Patrol operation along Interstate 90 in western New York resulted in the arrest of 37 men earlier this month, including 30 who were operating commercial vehicles despite being in the United States illegally but holding valid state-issued CDLs.
The four-day enforcement initiative, Operation Bear Cave, was held Nov. 8-11. It involved U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Buffalo Station with support from ICE Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations. Inspections were carried out at more than 10 locations along the western section of the Interstate 90, known as New York State Thruway.
Agents discovered that 30 of the illegal aliens possessed valid CDLs from the states of California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
Another seven were arrested at the same locations but were not driving commercial vehicles. All 37 men were processed and transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings, according to a news release.
Acting Buffalo Sector Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato said the arrests reflect a growing trend of unauthorized individuals operating heavy vehicles on U.S. roads.
“It raises significant safety concerns,” D’Amato said. “Drivers who are not fluent or with little to no ability to speak or read English pose a serious risk on our roadways, especially when operating large vehicles that require a high level of skill and understanding of traffic laws. The ongoing major accidents nationwide involving such drivers highlight the critical need for enforcement and vigilance to protect public safety.”
These arrests come on the heels of another recent operation — dubbed Midway Blitz and held by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — which resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens on Indiana highways near the Illinois state line — including 146 truck drivers.
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