Alabama is teaming up with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to make the state's interstates safer.
Since October 27, 82 suspected illegal immigrants and illegal truck operators have been detained during inspections. The majority of the arrests occurred during two separate three-day Strike Force operations, along with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) officers.
Gov. Kay Ivey announced that ICE agents are now routinely taking part in commercial vehicle enforcement assignments.
"Alabama is leading the way when it comes to going after illegal bad actors in trucking," said Ivey. "I'm proud of ALEA for taking decisive action and grateful for our strong partnership with ICE. Alabama will not look the other way while illegal immigration and illegal operators threaten the safety of our communities or undermine the integrity of our trucking industry. If you are here illegally and breaking our laws or putting folks at risk on our highways, you will be held accountable in our state."
Of the 82 individuals detained, 12 did not have a driver's license. The remaining 70 had out-of-state licenses.
The immigration crisis brought along with it an increase in commercial truck drivers who are unable to speak proficient English. President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring commercial drivers to "read and speak the English language."
However, after a deadly crash in Thomasville that involved a foreign truck driver who plowed through an intersection killing two people, the driver had to get a Ukrainian interpreter because he couldn't effectively communicate, according to his own lawyers. Andrii Dmyterko is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide.
A third woman involved in the crash has filed a civil lawsuit claiming negligent or wanton driving, negligent or wanton hiring and training, supervision, retention and entrustment and negligent or wanton inspection, maintenance, service, alteration, repair or other ways. The company Dmyterko worked for, 4 US Transport, is named in the lawsuit.
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