Hoosier Officials Aim to Protect Highways from Illegal Immigrants with CDLs

Recent cases of illegal aliens driving commercial vehicles involved in fatal crashes has brought attention to this issue.

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INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Governor Mike Braun joined Attorney General Todd Rokita and Representative Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) to take on the dangerous upsurge of illegal aliens with Commercial Drivers' Licenses (CDLs) driving large commercial trucks on Hoosier roads and highways. Senator Michael Crider (R-Greenfield) is offering the Senate amendment to House Bill 1200.

Recent cases of illegal aliens driving commercial vehicles involved in fatal crashes has brought attention to this issue. In the last month alone, Indiana has experienced multiple fatal crashes caused by illegal immigrants with CDLs driving massive commercial trucks. 

Last Fall, Gov. Braun joined DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to announce operation Midway Blitz, a successful 287(g) operation with Indiana State Police that resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens on Indiana highways near the Illinois state line—including 146 truck drivers. 

Additionally, Gov. Braun recently completed an audit of Indiana’s non-domiciled CDLs with the Federal Motor Carriers Association (FMCA) and as a result, the state is already in the process of removing hundreds of illegally licensed drivers from the road.

Gov. Braun, AG Rokita, and Rep. Pressel collaborated on a first of its kind amendment that will strengthen the process for CDL licensing and enable the state to remove CDLs from illegal immigrants. In addition, the amendment will create new penalties to crack down on non-licensed drivers and the companies that employee them. 
 

"As the Crossroads of America, Indiana must do all we can to ensure our roads are safe," said Gov. Braun. "In addition to strengthening our CDL licensing process, Indiana will revoke the CDLs of drivers who are illegal immigrants and penalize companies who employee them. Through strong enforcement we will keep our roads and highways safe."

"We've seen horrible accidents on our roads—terrible tragedies that ended in fatalities—all caused by illegal aliens driving commercial vehicles they had no business operating," Attorney General Rokita said. "Although the state already has the power to revoke a license for a public safety risk, we have worked directly with legislators and the governor on proposed statutory language to make license revocation mandatory in cases of illegal aliens, since the federal government has already determined these aliens pose serious public safety risks."

"Keeping Hoosiers safe on our roadways is a top priority," Rep. Pressel said.  "This amendment ensures everyone receiving a license to drive commercial trucks can read and understand our traffic signs and law enforcement safety instructions with proficiency, revokes CDLs issued without the proficiency proven and cracks down on drivers still operating without a valid CDL. Non-domiciled CDL drivers are the biggest threat to Indiana roads and with the new penalty of a level 6 felony and $5,000 fine for the non-licensed driver and $50,000 fine for the owner of the trucking company employing the non-licensed drive, we will be the first state to take action against dangerous and illegal drivers."