Gov. Braun, AG Rokita & state legislators working to protect Hoosier highways from illegal immigrants with CDLs

Submitted by Office of Gov. Mike Braun

Indiana Governor Mike Braun joined Attorney General Todd Rokita and State 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.

State 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,” Gov. Braun said. “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,” AG 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.”