The Trump administration announced the results of a crackdown on illegal immigration in the trucking industry. The Department of Transportation (DOT) began the crackdown, Operation Highway Shield, in Florida earlier this year and has since expanded it to multiple states in the Midwest.
Enforcement Efforts
Officials carried out 3,487 enforcement stops during the operation, resulting in 766 unsafe commercial vehicles or drivers placed out of service, 51 immigration detentions, 47 criminal charges filed, 39 incarcerations, 36 English language proficiency (ELP) violations, and three cargo theft recoveries totaling roughly $1 million in stolen freight.
The Trump administration maintains that federal immigration and commercial driving enforcement remains a top priority. The enforcement push comes after a string of deadly crashes nationwide involving drivers who were in the U.S. illegally or operating with commercial drivers’ licenses (CDLs) they should never have had.
Authorities explained that being unable to speak or read English is a safety issue, as truckers are driving by important road signs at high speeds while carrying hundreds of tons. The DOT has noted that federal English requirements have been on the books for years, and it’s a matter of ensuring driver safety on the roads.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
