MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WDNews) — Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday announced significant results from a recent enforcement partnership between the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit (MCSU) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a collaboration aimed at identifying illegal operators and improving safety on Alabama’s interstate corridors.
The partnership began Oct. 27 and has since led to 82 detentions during commercial motor vehicle inspections. Most of those occurred during two coordinated “Strike Force” operations held Oct. 27–30 and Nov. 16–18. ICE personnel have also been embedded in ALEA’s routine commercial vehicle enforcement activities when available.
Ivey praised ALEA’s efforts, saying the state remains committed to holding illegal operators accountable.
“Alabama is leading the way when it comes to going after illegal bad actors in trucking,” Ivey said. “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.”
According to ALEA, officers have referred approximately 242 individuals to ICE for immigration status checks since the effort began. Of those, 82 were detained. Twelve had no driver’s license of any kind, while the rest presented out-of-state licenses.
The targeted enforcement concentrated on rural interstate corridors with historically high crash rates and heavy commercial truck traffic.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said the results demonstrate the value of collaboration with federal partners.
“These results reflect the strength of our ongoing partnership with ICE and our collaboration with all federal partners committed to improving highway and public safety,” Taylor said. “The support and leadership of Governor Ivey make these operations possible, and we remain dedicated to keeping Alabama’s roads and its citizens safe.”
Mark Colson, president and CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association, said the enforcement push protects law-abiding industry operators.
“A growing number of illegal operators and bad actors who exploit regulatory loopholes are compromising safety and undercutting hardworking Alabamians who move our economy,” Colson said. “Due to the leadership and enforcement actions by Governor Kay Ivey and ALEA, Alabama is doing its part to keep our highways safe and keep the bad actors out of the trucking industry.”
State officials say coordinated enforcement will continue as Alabama works to ensure roadway safety and uphold state and federal laws.
