HSI Arrests Two Mexican Nationals in Cabotage Probe at Arizona CDL School
Federal agents seized firearms and a tractor-trailer at a Nogales truck driving school as authorities investigate illegal hiring and domestic freight hauling by foreign drivers.
What is cabotage and why did HSI raid an Arizona truck driving school?
Homeland Security Investigations Arizona arrested two Mexican nationals and seized firearms and a tractor-trailer at a truck driving school in Nogales, Arizona, on August 11, 2026. HSI executed a federal search warrant as part of an investigation into suspected illegal hiring practices and cabotage violations. Cabotage is the illegal practice of a foreign carrier transporting goods or passengers between two domestic locations within another country.
HSI did not identify the two arrested individuals, the truck driving school, or provide additional details about the firearms and tractor-trailer seized. The agency stated investigators suspect a connection to illegal hiring practices and cabotage.
CBP confirms increase in foreign driver cabotage cases
U.S. Customs and Border Protection told FreightWaves that cabotage cases involving foreign truck drivers appear to be increasing, particularly in border regions. CBP said specific cabotage enforcement data is not currently available but that the agency will enforce immigration laws involving truck drivers to protect legitimate trucking businesses, fair competition, and safe freight movement.
Foreign truck drivers admitted under B-1 nonimmigrant status are permitted to transport cargo in international commerce but cannot engage in domestic cabotage. A CBP spokesperson told FreightWaves that alien truck drivers with B-1 nonimmigrant visas are only permitted to transport cargo in international commerce, and engaging in cabotage is a violation of their nonimmigrant status, leading to potential visa cancellation or revocation.
CBP provided the statement in response to a separate FreightWaves inquiry concerning alleged cabotage violations involving a Canadian carrier. The agency said it has observed an increase in encounters involving alien truck drivers and cabotage cases.
What cross-border carriers need to know about B-1 visa restrictions
Mexican and Canadian carriers operating under B-1 nonimmigrant visas face strict limits on the freight they can haul inside the United States. A driver admitted on a B-1 visa can pick up a load in Laredo and deliver it to a consignee in Mexico. That same driver cannot legally pick up a load in Laredo and deliver it to Dallas. The second scenario is domestic cabotage and violates the driver's immigration status.
Carriers that hire foreign nationals on B-1 visas must verify that every load crosses an international border. Dispatchers who assign domestic point-to-point loads to B-1 drivers expose the carrier to visa revocation, potential criminal charges, and loss of operating authority. The Nogales arrests signal that HSI and CBP are actively investigating truck driving schools and carriers suspected of facilitating cabotage.
Fleets that operate near the southern or northern border should audit their hiring and dispatch practices. Verify that every driver's immigration status matches the freight they haul. A B-1 visa holder hauling domestic freight is out of status the moment the load is tendered. CBP can cancel the visa at the next port of entry.
Why HSI is targeting truck driving schools in cabotage probes
The Nogales raid marks a shift in enforcement focus. HSI executed the search warrant at a truck driving school, not a carrier terminal. Federal authorities appear to be investigating whether CDL schools are recruiting foreign nationals, training them, and placing them with carriers that knowingly assign domestic loads.
If a truck driving school recruits Mexican or Canadian nationals, trains them to obtain a U.S. commercial driver's license, and then connects them with carriers that haul domestic freight, the school may be facilitating immigration violations. HSI's seizure of firearms and a tractor-trailer at the Nogales school suggests investigators suspect the operation went beyond standard CDL training.
Carriers that hire drivers referred by third-party CDL schools should verify the driver's immigration status independently. A driver who holds a valid CDL issued by a U.S. state may still be in the country on a B-1 visa that prohibits domestic freight hauling. The CDL itself does not confer work authorization. Carriers must verify work eligibility through Form I-9 and confirm that the driver's visa class permits the type of freight being hauled.
How cabotage enforcement affects small fleets near the border
Small fleets operating in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and California face heightened scrutiny. CBP said it has observed an increase in encounters involving foreign truck drivers and cabotage cases, particularly in border regions. The Nogales arrests follow FMCSA's stepped-up cabotage enforcement targeting Mexican carriers hauling illegal domestic U.S. loads.
Fleets that operate cross-border and domestic lanes must segregate drivers by immigration status. A fleet that runs both international and domestic freight cannot assign a B-1 visa holder to a domestic load, even if the driver is available and the truck is empty. The visa restriction overrides dispatch convenience.
Carriers caught running cabotage loads face visa revocation for the driver, potential fines, and loss of operating authority if FMCSA determines the carrier knowingly violated immigration law. HSI's involvement in the Nogales case signals that cabotage violations may also trigger criminal charges. The seizure of firearms at the truck driving school suggests investigators are pursuing a broader criminal case beyond simple immigration violations.
What to do if your fleet hires foreign nationals on B-1 visas
Carriers that employ drivers on B-1 visas should audit their dispatch records immediately. Pull every load assigned to B-1 visa holders in the past 12 months. Verify that each load crossed an international border. If you find domestic point-to-point loads assigned to B-1 drivers, consult an immigration attorney before the next CBP inspection.
Update your dispatch software to flag drivers by visa class. A driver's immigration status should be as visible to dispatchers as their HOS clock. If your TMS does not track visa class, add a manual flag in the driver profile. Train dispatchers to verify visa status before tendering a load.
Verify work authorization at hire and annually thereafter. Form I-9 is mandatory, but it does not tell you whether a driver's visa permits domestic freight hauling. Request a copy of the driver's visa stamp or I-94 arrival record. If the driver holds a B-1 visa, document that the driver will haul only international loads. Keep that documentation in the driver qualification file.
CBP said specific cabotage enforcement data is not currently available, but the agency confirmed it will enforce immigration laws involving truck drivers. The Nogales arrests and the seizure of equipment at a truck driving school indicate that HSI and CBP are coordinating enforcement. Small fleets that operate near the border should treat cabotage compliance as seriously as HOS and drug-testing rules. The penalty for a cabotage violation is not a CSA point. It is loss of the driver, potential criminal charges, and revocation of operating authority.
