Alabama Governor touts 561 ICE arrests and 1,022 ELP violations issued during commercial vehicle enforcement details
Alabama is leading the way on combatting fraud and illegal activity within the trucking industry, state officials said on Wednesday.
Amid a high-profile federal crackdown on the trucking industry, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said that her state “has been at the forefront of these same efforts” since last year.
On September 2, 2026, Ivey cheered the federal government’s crackdown on trucking fraudsters and highlighted commercial vehicle enforcement results achieved through a partnership between the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Motor Carrier Safety Unit (MCSU) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Since October 27, 2025, ALEA commercial vehicle enforcement activities have resulted in the ICE arrest of 561 individuals for immigration violations, Ivey said.
Additionally, since January 1, 2025, MCSU Troopers have issued 1,022 English Language Proficiency (ELP) violations to commercial drivers.
Ivey also pointed to a new law going into effect on October 1, 2026, called the Highway Safety and Fairness Act, which:
- Requires foreign CDL holders operating in Alabama to possess valid United States work authorization
- Requires all CDL holders to demonstrate English-language proficiency
- Makes presenting a fraudulent foreign CDL during an enforcement encounter a criminal offense
Amid the push for increased commercial vehicle and driver enforcement, Alabama has seen a 24% decrease in commercial vehicle crash fatalities so far in 2026 compared to the same period last year, Ivey said.
“President Trump and Secretary Duffy are taking decisive action to restore law, order and accountability to America’s trucking industry, and we are proud to help lead that effort,” said Ivey. “Here in Alabama, we have already made it clear that those who are in our country illegally, cannot speak English or are otherwise unqualified have no business operating an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle. Through ALEA’s partnership with ICE and the dedicated work of our state troopers, Alabama is helping keep dangerous drivers off our roads and protect law-abiding citizens.”
“Commercial motor vehicle safety is about much more than conducting an inspection or issuing a citation. It is about making certain the individuals operating these large vehicles are qualified, properly licensed and capable of doing so safely,” said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. “Under Governor Ivey’s leadership, ALEA has remained proactive in addressing these issues through targeted enforcement, federal partnerships and the work of our Motor Carrier Safety Unit. The progress we are seeing in CMV-related fatalities demonstrates why these efforts remain so important.”