U.S. border authorities have arrested an Indian national after a dramatic pursuit involving a tractor-trailer in southern Arizona, officials said.
According to the U.S. Border Patrol, agents from its Yuma Station attempted to stop a suspicious truck in the Yuma Sector on Saturday. The driver failed to yield, prompting officers from multiple law enforcement agencies to assist.
A controlled tyre-deflation device was deployed, forcing the truck to a halt. The driver then fled on foot but was apprehended about 100 yards away by a border patrol agent.
Border officials identified the man as Varinder Singh, an Indian national who was unlawfully present in the United States and subject to an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in immigration court. He has been charged with fleeing from law enforcement and immigration-related offences, and is expected to face additional state charges.
The incident occurred within the Yuma Sector, a region that includes parts of Arizona and the California border.
An image released by U.S. Border Patrol indicated Singh held a commercial driver’s licence issued by the state of California.
The arrest comes amid renewed scrutiny of commercial licensing and immigration enforcement. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Madison D. Sheahan recently criticised California’s approach, arguing that the state’s policies have allowed some unauthorised migrants to obtain commercial licences and drive interstate.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has previously defended the state’s licensing framework, saying it is designed to improve road safety by ensuring all drivers, regardless of status, are tested and insured.
Authorities said the investigation into the Arizona incident remains ongoing.
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