Immigration Crack Down Results In 37 Arrests Near Buffalo

A border patrol operation resulted in 37 arrests near Buffalo on I-90. U.S. Border Patrol agents targeted commercial vehicles operating on the New York State Thruway. The undocumented immigrants were driving with valid state-issued Commercial Driver Licenses. The crack down took place between November 8 and November 11, 2025. The agents targeted ten locations along the Thruway.

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Agents found 30 of the 37 people arrested possessed valid commercial driver licenses from New York, as well as California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. The other seven people arrested were not driving at the time of their arrests. All 37 of the illegal immigrants were males, who were processed and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings. Acting Buffalo Sector Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato said,

“As we continue to see an alarming trend of illegal aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States operating commercial vehicles, it raises significant safety concerns. 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."

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What Does New York Require To Get A CDL?

A CDL is required to drive (but not limited to) dump trucks, tractor-trailers, buses, and stretch limos in New York State. Drivers must pass a written test, which is available in Spanish and a variety of other languages, and a road test. They must also prove that they are legally in the United States. You can find out more about CDL requirements here.

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