Sean McGoffin, Border Patrol Chief for Tucson, Arizona, said that agents at the I-19 checkpoint stopped two semi-trucks for cabotage violations. This resulted in revoked Border Crossing Cards and the trucks being towed to enforce rules protecting U.S. trucking jobs.
“Catching Cabotage Violators, One Semi at a Time,” said Sean Mcgoffin. “Border Patrol agents at the I-19 checkpoint stopped two semi-trucks in their tracks Friday night, enforcing cabotage laws that protect U.S. jobs and transportation routes. The Mexican drivers violated their visa terms and federal trucking regulations, leading to their Border Crossing Cards being revoked and the semi-trucks being towed. Cabotage laws = fair play for American workers! Great job Nogales Station!!”
According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) release from Nogales, Arizona, Border Patrol agents at the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint stopped two tractor-trailers driven by Mexican nationals. They determined that the loads violated U.S. cabotage rules. CBP reported that the drivers’ Border Crossing Cards would be processed for revocation because the trips involved hauling domestic freight between U.S. points, contrary to their visa terms and federal regulations. The trucks were subsequently towed from the checkpoint.
U.S. cabotage rules limit foreign truck drivers to hauling loads that are part of an international movement, such as freight entering or leaving the country, and prohibit them from carrying goods solely between two domestic points. Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism guidance warns that using foreign drivers on B-1 visas for internal U.S. routes is a common violation that can trigger fines, seizure of merchandise, and cancellation of travel documents.
Permanent Border Patrol checkpoints like the one on Interstate 19 south of Tucson are part of a network of interior inspection sites within 100 miles of the border supporting the agency’s broader mission. Government Accountability Office reviews note that agents at these checkpoints conduct brief immigration inspections and commercial-vehicle checks when warranted.
McGoffin serves as Chief Patrol Agent for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector, a 262-mile stretch of the Arizona-Mexico border known for high levels of migrant traffic and smuggling activity.
