Boston: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested Satvir Singh, a Punjabi-origin Indian truck driver, during a targeted operation at a commercial vehicle inspection station on a national highway in Hillsborough, Boston.
Singh, who lives in New Jersey and works as an interstate truck driver, was taken into custody on September 11.
In a post on X, ICE said Singh had legally entered the US in 2017 but had allegedly remained in the country unlawfully for more than eight years, violating the conditions of his admission.
The arrest came a day after the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removed a controversial digital advertisement targeting undocumented truck drivers. The AI-generated poster showed a brown-bearded man and carried the message, “Get off our roads. You don’t know how to drive, Mr Singh.”
The advertisement drew strong criticism from Indian-American and Sikh organisations, which described it as racist. Democratic leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, also criticised the campaign.
ICE intensifies immigration enforcement
ICE has stepped up arrests as part of the Trump administration’s wider immigration enforcement campaign following Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. Thousands of arrests have been carried out in public places, with some operations also leading to confrontations involving protesters.
ICE was established under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 following the September 11 attacks. The agency is responsible for enforcing US immigration laws and investigating unlawful immigration. Its officers can detain and arrest people suspected of being unlawfully present in the country, while entry into a private residence generally requires a judicial warrant.
The ‘Mr Singh’ advertisement was part of the administration’s broader campaign targeting undocumented commercial truck drivers, following concerns over road safety and immigration violations.
