In a recent event that underscores the ongoing immigration issues in the United States, Border Patrol agents intercepted a commercial truck at an inland checkpoint near Blythe, California. The driver, a 25-year-old Indian national, was discovered to be residing illegally in the country, despite possessing a valid New York commercial driver’s license.

The chief patrol agent of the Yuma Sector shared details of the incident on social media, stating, “Blythe Station agents arrested a commercial truck driver at an immigration checkpoint after discovering he was unlawfully present in the U.S.” The driver, found with a New York state-issued license, was detained under the grounds of alien inadmissibility according to 8 USC 1182, and is now facing deportation proceedings.

This arrest takes place against the backdrop of a legal dispute concerning the Department of Transportation’s policy on issuing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to illegal immigrants. The controversy has sparked significant debate, particularly following a court decision that refused the Trump administration’s attempt to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining such licenses.

Reacting to the court’s decision, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed strong disapproval. Speaking on “The Ingraham Angle,” Duffy remarked, “We’re not going to take this lying down. We are going to do all we can to protect the American people.” His comments reflect the administration’s commitment to challenging the ruling and addressing the broader implications for immigration and public safety.

“We’re not going to take this lying down,” Duffy said on “The Ingraham Angle.” “We are going to do all we can to protect the American people.”

His comments came after a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., ruled last Thursday that the Department of Transportation’s restrictions could not be enforced.

Harjinder Singh, a commercial truck driver accused of making an illegal U-turn that killed three people on Florida’s Turnpike, appeared in court virtually Nov. 13. (St. Lucie Courthouse, Florida)

Such restrictions were announced in September, after illegal immigrant truck driver Harjinder Singh was accused of causing a crash involving a tractor-trailer that killed three people in Fort Pierce, Florida.

The judges said the federal government failed to follow proper procedure or explain how the rule would promote safety. The court also noted that Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data shows about 5% of all commercial driver’s licenses belong to immigrants, though they account for just 0.2% of fatal crashes.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy touted English proficient rules for commercial truck drivers on Tuesday.  (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Duffy attributed much of the blame to the Biden administration, which he said allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter, granted them work authorizations and then let them seek CDLs.

“People are dying,” he said.

“And we thought it was appropriate to protect Americans and we should have an emergency rule, not to go through the month-long process. We did that. The court has rolled us back and said, ‘Well, we’re not quite sure this is an emergency. We want to see more data.’ And I’m like… ‘Watch any show on television, and you’ll see the risk to the American people.’”