Summary
A Florida truck driver named Sergei Tiurkin, who fled Russia and was authorized to work in the U.S., was detained by immigration agents during a routine stop. Despite having valid work permits, ICE detained him due to concerns about his legal status in the U.S. Tiurkin and his family are in the process of seeking asylum to avoid being sent back to Russia.
Key Facts
- Sergei Tiurkin is a truck driver from Florida who left Russia and obtained work authorization in the U.S.
- He was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near Atlanta, Georgia.
- Tiurkin has a U.S. commercial driver's license and no criminal record in either the U.S. or Russia.
- ICE is actively targeting commercial drivers suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, part of broader immigration enforcement actions.
- Tiurkin's family entered the U.S. via a border app called CBP One and are seeking asylum.
- The family fears deportation to Russia, where there are increased military mobilizations.
- The U.S. trucking industry is concerned about driver shortages and impacts on supply chains due to such enforcement actions.
