U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) believes there are many examples of how the Democratic Party has been co-opted by the radical left in America.

The senator has grown impatient with her colleagues on the other side of the aisle for being so unwilling to make a deal and fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS is the lone major agency that was not funded by Congress when they enacted the full-year FY2026 spending for most of the rest of government.

“Look, this is just completely unnecessary and unfortunate in so many ways,” Britt said Sunday on Fox News. “We have men and women who have stepped up to serve our Department of Homeland Security. We’re seeing TSA right there, and they’re not getting a paycheck. It’s unacceptable. We want our Democratic colleagues to sit down with us and find a pathway forward…The first time they sat down with us was on Thursday.”

Britt thinks the base of the Democratic Party has just gone too far to the left on most issues.

“[W]hen I’m looking at what the Democratic Party has become, it is literally that the far left has taken over, is in the driver’s seat of the Democratic Party,” she argued. “We’re seeing that with them paying for protesters in a number of places, but also with the rhetoric that’s created and kind of stirring that up, calling ICE officers Nazis and Gestapo.”

“I mean, really, what we have to do is go back to making sure we’re standing shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement officers,” she continued. “That we are abiding by the law, enforcing the law, that we know that the way you do it matters, that we’re going to do it the right way, but we’re we’re not going to vilify this.”

Britt has also been pushing the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act, which would ensure that members of Congress do not receive a paycheck during a government shutdown.

“I believe if Congress wasn’t getting a paycheck right now, that they would be much more eager to find a solution about this,” she said. “And I believe John Kennedy has a bill, and it says that if we don’t do our job, and that if people aren’t getting paid in the government that have stepped up to serve the United States government, then Congress shouldn’t get a paycheck either.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is not backing away from his recent comments of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The senator and gubernatorial candidate received some backlash after reposting an image on X that compared Mamdani to the terrorists on September 11, 2001.

https://x.com/SenTuberville/status/2032087973810901496

Mamdani responded to Tuberville’s comments, saying, “Let there be as much outrage from politicians in Washington when kids go hungry as there is when I break bread with New Yorkers.”

Tuberville was once again asked about the comments during a call with reporters Thursday.

“[W]hen the mayor of New York City does not put his hand on the Bible and and take the oath to go by our Constitution and uses Quran, which teaches Death to America,” Tuberville said. “That’s a pretty simple explanation for me.”

Tuberville said his comments are not directed at all Muslims, just those that promote Sharia Law and the Quran.

“Well, yeah, I’ll meet with anybody. It doesn’t make any difference to me. I have friends in Alabama that are Muslim, but they don’t preach, teach Sharia law, nor do they study the Quran, because the Sharia law and the Quran are totally opposite of what this country is about,” Tuberville said. “I mean, that’s a pretty easy observation there.”

Late last year, the senator filed a two bill package on the issue: The No Sharia Act and the Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act.

“So no, I’ll, I’ll visit and talk with anybody,” he added. “I love all people. I don’t care if you’re Muslim or Christian or Catholic or Jewish, it makes to me no difference, but do not study and teach and preach and indoctrinate people in something that wants to, wants to have Death to all Americans, and that’s what it teaches. ”

While some have criticized the senator’s stance by claiming it’s an attack on religious freedom, Tuberville said he believes he’s protecting Americans.

“They say, ‘Well, you’re against freedom of religion.’ No, I’m not,” he argued. “Sharia Law and the Quran preaches no freedom of religion, because if you don’t believe in the Quran and Sharia Law, you believe in you should be killed. That’s what Sharia Law and the Quran teaches. So, you know, they kind of speak out of both sides of their mouth, but at the end of the day, these people that preach this Quran and and Sharia Law, they have taken over Europe and almost destroyed it. We’re not allowing that to happen in Alabama or the United States of America.”

Tuberville said he will continue to speak out on the issue despite the pushback.

“Now it’s time to speak up and understand the problem,” he said, “because we have a huge problem here with the growth of a lot of these, a lot of this situation, and I’ll continue to talk out and speak about it on the Senate floor, on TV, on the radio, and the people in Alabama and people across the country.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is losing patience with her colleagues on the other side of the aisle over the fact that they refuse to negotiate to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS is the lone major department that was not funded by Congress when they enacted the full-year FY2026 spending for most of the rest of government.

Britt, chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, joined Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.Dak.), Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and other members of Senate Republican leadership to discuss the ongoing Democrat-led shutdown of the DHS.

“It’s a disappointing day,” Britt lamented. “We are 38, 39 days past when we decided we would do a two-week CR, which we gave the Democrats in good faith to be able to have a conversation about the proper way to fund the Department of Homeland Security moving forward. We are now 24, 25 days into a government shutdown with a department that is actually charged with keeping Americans safe… This is reckless and it’s disingenuous.”

https://x.com/SenateGOP/status/2031459968721785080

The U.S. House already passed a measure to get that part of the government open, but it has been stalled in the upper chamber. Democrat leaders are demanding radical reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before they vote to fully open up the government.

“Here [Democrats] are telling you they want to see reforms, but I am here to tell you that they have not come to the table,” Britt continued. “Despite countless offers to sit down and try to find a pathway forward, they will not even have a conversation with us. So, you are 38, 39 days past when we decided this pathway forward and agreed to them to work on this, and they have not sat down one time. Folks, that means that this is all about politics. It was never about people.”

The senator implored Democrats to at least come to the table and talk for the good of America’s national security.

“We stand here ready to put the safety of Americans in front of that, and I would hope our Democratic colleagues would do the same,” she said. “But at the very least, they must answer for that: Not being willing to have a conversation, not being willing to figure out a pathway forward. [Republicans] certainly are. We stand ready to do that. We stand ready to do what’s right for the American people.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

One Alabama Sheriff is thanking President Donald Trump for making his job easier by securing the southern border and cracking down on drug trafficking.

Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd spoke at the Republican Study Committee roundtable Tuesday, which was meant to highlight the accomplishment of the Trump administration before the State of the Union address.

Byrd was invited by U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) to speak at the hearing and to be his guest for the President’s speech.

“Since the Trump Administration, it has been a lot easier to be in law enforcement, I’ll be honest with you,” Byrd said. “Our crime is all dealing with methamphetamine, and it all comes from the border, and you got to tighten up that border. We’ve seen a decrease, my narcotics guys, they’re not getting as easy busts as they used to. So that means it’s working, and I’m proud…this is my first term sheriff.”

https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2026305103695585417

Byrd also joked with the congressman a little bit before praising his leadership as well.

“And I can’t say anything good about Barry,” he quipped. “He knows I love him, and he knows it. We all grew up down there on the same street, so we fight for our families and our people.”

“I’ve got 43 deputies under the the 1033 program,” he added. “I’ve got a couple helicopters, some military equipment to keep my guys safe, which keeps, you know, keeps them so they come home and see their family. Like I said, the administration we got now was working, and I’m proud to work with Barry, and he’s doing a good job. And what we got going on in a little old, sleepy county in southern Alabama.”

Moore has been a major supporter of the Trump administration’s effort to secure the border.

“Thousands of individuals were taken too soon due to the open border policies of the Biden Administration,” Moore said Monday on X. “Thankful for [the President] and his administration for ending the open border madness and keeping the American people safe!”

https://x.com/RepBarryMoore/status/2026091512694444164

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) is blasting Democrats who use Congressional committee hearings to attack members of the Trump administration.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Chief Todd Lyons was berated by several Democratic lawmakers during a House Oversight Committee hearing Tuesday.

“How do you think Judgement Day will go for you with so much blood on your hands? You think you’re going to hell, Mr. Lyons?” U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) asked Lyons during the hearing.

https://x.com/NRO/status/2021280036905455907

Moore told WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program,” that these lawmakers care more about going viral on social media than securing the nation’s border.

“That’s typical,” Moore argued. “I mean, you got these these people and these committees, especially with the Democrats attacking ICE right now, and it’s for that viral clip, that five minute questioning where you try to go viral and get released out on social media for your base or for whatever your group looks like. But you know it’s typical.”

Moore, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate, said the Democrats should be more worried about left-wing activists causing chaos in Minneapolis.

“They will attack your faith a lot of time,” he said. “And the fact that they call them Nazis. Nazis are not legal law enforcement…ICE officers going in and arresting people who are here illegally or who are attacking them. It’s going into a church doing a worship service, that’s what Nazis did, and intimidate people trying to worship. That’s really the definition, to me. It’s not it’s not the ICE federal law enforcement with federal law on their side, going in and cleaning up these areas where there was rampant fraud and there’s rampant immigration, illegally into those areas, those sanctuary areas, where they’re hiding those criminals, and turn on them, back loose on the street that’s simply abiding by the law of the land.”

The congressman believes that deporting illegal immigrants is what the President was elected to accomplish.

“Trump ran on this, he said, ‘deport them now.’ And he ran on that, and he’s doing what the American people elected him to do,” he said. “He won a majority of the popular vote, he won the Electoral College, he won six swing all the swing states. And so the American people are asking for the President to do this. The executive branch is doing that through Tom Homan and ICE with the federal law on their side. And so this is the will of the people. And so sure, these guys are getting attacked, like said that they’re the left is pretty dirty on how they do that sometime, and that just shows up in these committee.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Former Navy Seal and current candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026, Jared Hudson is calling on the upper chamber to force those who want to filibuster a bill to actually have to “stand on the floor and do it.”

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) have openly advocated for abolishing the Senate filibuster altogether in order to pass President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Hudson, who is running to replace Tuberville for Alabama’s Senate seat in 2026, told WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program,” that he would prefer just doing away with the “silent filibuster.”

“What I’ve been saying is, hey, we need to abolish the silent filibuster, the zombie filibuster,” Hudson explained. “No more of this Democrat being able to call in and saying, Hey, we’re going to, we’re going to filibuster for this, but not actually having to stand on the floor and do it. They need to earn what it is their filibuster.”

Trump has recently suggested that Republicans need to get rid of the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections.

“Abolish the silent filibuster,” Hudson continued, “so you require them to stand on the floor and tell the American people that they’re elected to represent their state, right? They need to tell their state. They need to let the American people hear why they’re standing with the criminals, as opposed to standing with the American citizen. And right now, federal law enforcement who’s deporting criminal illegal aliens who are criminalizing and running criminal enterprise over the citizens of this nation.”

Hudson said getting rid of the “silent filibuster” would force Democrat to explain why they are supporting law enforcement.

“This guy killed an Alabama citizen, a 73 year old Alabama citizen, and he’s running around right now armed and at large,” he said. “And it’s important that we support law enforcement, because there are men and women who do violence on our behalf, so that we can sleep in peace at night. And if they’re going to be out doing that, then, by golly, you ought to have the dang Democrats, if they’re going to filibuster, they don’t need to make a phone call and say, we’re going to filibuster.”

“They ought to be on the floor telling everybody why they’re standing against it,” he added. “They ought to have to earn it, because there’s somebody out there right now earning their right to be an idiot.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is frustrated with her colleagues on the other side of the aisle over their unwillingness to make a deal to prevent another partial government shutdown.

The Senate failed to pass a two week stopgap bill Thursday to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which will run out of funding by Saturday.

DHS is the lone major department still facing a funding cliff after Congress enacted full-year FY2026 spending for most of the rest of government earlier this month, leaving Homeland Security on a short-term patch.

Britt, who was instrumental in negotiating with Democrats to end the government shutdown in 2025, is no longer optimistic that a deal can be made this week.

The senator discussed the issue Thursday on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show.”

“The White House has done a really great job,” Britt said. “The White House has lead here in putting forth real solutions and being thoughtful about how we stand with our law enforcement officers and give them the tools they need to keep themselves and our community safe, and they walked away from this.”

Britt believes the Democrats have been completely disingenuous throughout the whole negotiation period.

“And look, it’s political theater,” she argued. “It’s totally political theater, because think about this. They are, instead of taking some of what they would believe are advancements, they are walking away so that they can placate to their leftist base. Because instead of putting in what they believe are proper reforms, they’re just saying, ‘No, we don’t want to deal with this at all.'”

The senator said government shutdowns aren’t good for anyone, but especially harm the workers involved.

“So I don’t think it’s ever easy to go into any kind of government shutdown,” she said, “because every single one of these people depend on their paychecks, and we are asking them to show up to work, and yet, not receiving a paycheck, not being able to pay their bills, their mortgage, their child care, their gas.”

Britt also took to the floor of the Senate on Thursday to press for a clean two-week DHS stopgap, warning Democrats that blocking it would force a partial shutdown and risk paychecks for frontline federal workers.

https://x.com/PolarisNatSec/status/2022123104223539671?s=20

She said Republicans will continue to try and work with Democrats to avoid a shutdown. But as chair of the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security subcommittee, Britt knows well where Senate Democrats are currently making unreasonable demands.

“Let’s keep working in good faith,” she said. “I hope that they take that opportunity to say, ‘Yeah, let’s do that,’ but I am not holding my breath, because for them, this is all about politics. They’re not thinking about the fact that they they’re also coming up with plans of like, let’s just defund ice all together.”

“I mean, there are really important things that they I think they don’t even understand what they’re saying they want to defund,” she added. “And I think it’s disingenuous, and I think that they’re just placating to their base. And at some point you’ve got to lead. That’s certainly what the President’s trying to do, that’s certainly what Republicans are trying to do, is have a conversation and find a pathway forward.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is asking for more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to come down to the Yellowhammer State.

Marshall is asking for the Trump administration’s help to enforce the law after an illegal immigrant was arrested in connection with the disappearance of a mother and two of her children.

https://x.com/AGSteveMarshall/status/2021599855022358659

Juan Carlos Argueta Guerra was charged with three counts of kidnapping for allegedly taking 40-year-old Aurelia Choc Cac, 17-year-old Niurka Zuleta Choc, and 2-year-old Anthony Choc from their home.

“While radical leftist politicians in Washington spent yesterday attacking the brave men and women of ICE, an illegal criminal alien was arrested for kidnapping a mother and her two children,” Marshall said. “This heinous act was committed by someone who shouldn’t have even been in this country in the first place. Unfortunately, we continue to see this problem plague our state. Recently, an illegal immigrant deported six times attempted to kidnap a teenage girl in Elmore County.”

Marshall, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate, blamed former President Joe Biden’s open border policies for illegal immigrant criminals being in his state.

“The left, under Joe Biden, caused this mess,” he argued. “It’s why we shouldn’t be surprised that Democrats in Washington have made it clear that they support dangerous illegal criminal aliens over law-abiding American citizens.”

Marshall said Alabama leaders will not make the mistakes seen by the politicians recently in Minneapolis.

“Unlike state officials in Minnesota, as Alabama’s top law enforcement official, I am proud to partner with ICE and will advocate for continued and expanded operations in our state to vigorously pursue dangerous criminal offenders who flagrantly violate our nation’s immigration laws and put Alabama families at risk,” he said. “Our state stands for law and order because we understand what’s at stake: the safety of our communities. We will stop at nothing to protect Alabama families, deliver justice and get criminal illegal immigrants out of our country.”

“As Alabama’s next U.S. Senator, I will always fight for our communities by ensuring ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have the funding, manpower and tools to do their job,” he added. “The security of our state and our nation depend on it.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) wants his colleagues in Congress to help him pass a bill he believes will ensure the integrity of federal elections.

Tuberville, who is also a candidate to be Alabama’s next Governor, spoke on the Senate floor Monday to urge his fellow Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act, which would secure elections by requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote.

“It’s far past time for my Republican colleagues in the Senate to stop worrying about getting reelected and pass one of the most critical pieces of legislation that we will see in our lifetime: the SAVE America Act,” Tuberville said. “The SAVE America Act is most important—it requires voters to show a government ID to vote in federal elections. What a thought.”

The senator also highlighted a recent Pew Research poll showing that 83% of Americans support requiring a photo ID to vote.

“This is common sense—[…] 83% percent of all Americans—they support it. According to a 2025 poll [from Pew Research], there is bipartisan support for it [with] 95% of Republicans and 71% percent of Democrats across this country agreeing that a voter ID should be used in all of our elections,” he explained. “Interestingly, the support also transcends demographics among American citizens—82% of Latino voters, 76% of black voters, [and] 85% of white voters favor photo ID.”

“This really isn’t complicated,” he added. “The SAVE America Act also requires proof of citizenship for an individual to register in your state. If you are here illegally, you should not be voting in our elections—period. Lastly, the bill requires states to remove non-US citizens from existing voter rolls. It makes sense.”

Tuberville also criticized the Democrats for coming out so strongly against the measure.

“These policies, they’re not controversial, yet the Democratic Party is throwing a tantrum,” he argued. “You should be asking yourself, why is that? Why are they against voter ID, no mail-in ballots, no ballot harvesting, and one-day voting? Why is that? Is it because their illegal voting base will no longer be able to keep them in power once the legislation becomes law? Sure, it is.”

Tuberville said passing this bill is something that his constituents in Alabama are demanding.

“In my state of Alabama, I get two questions. Are you gonna close the border? And are you gonna have fair elections? I want my vote to count,” he said. “And that’s the reason I’m here today. If we don’t secure our federal elections, we will become a banana republic. It is right around the corner. The American people want it. The only question is, do my colleagues in the Senate want to keep their tradition of the Senate? Or do they want to work for the American people? That’s the reason we’re here. Or are we just interested in protecting our own power? I hope not because it won’t be here long if we don’t.

“Let’s do the right thing for the American taxpayers and pass the SAVE America Act,” he continued. “Our nation and future and the future of our kids and grandkids depend on it. Think about it.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who is also running to be the state’s next U.S. Senator, is hoping that Republicans in Congress don’t cave to Democrats’ demands on immigration enforcement.

President Donald Trump signed legislation Tuesday that will fund the Department of Homeland Security for the next two weeks. Democrats had been threatening to shut the government down and defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the issue of their recent activity in Minnesota.

Marshall discussed the impasse Wednesday on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”

“We see Republicans govern with common sense and rationality, and Democrats continue to do what they think they do best, [which] is to be the obstructionists. I mean, look, it’s what protesters are doing in Minneapolis. It’s what congressmen on the Democratic side are doing in Washington. And Republicans have to be able to act consistent with what’s expected, and that is to govern and to be able to keep communities safe.”

“Look, whatever objections are going on with ice, the Republicans in Congress need to stand strong,” he added. “They don’t need to bend to the wills of Democrats, because they simply don’t like that ice is doing their job, and we need to make sure that we are supporting with funding the mission that ice has in this country.”

Democrat leaders in Washington D.C. are demanding reforms including forcing ICE agents to remove their masks and only use judicial warrants instead of administrative warrants to arrest illegal immigrants.

Marshall explained why Republicans should say no to their requests on ICE changes.

“Look the detainers that we’ve used carrying out almost 30 years in law enforcement have worked,” he said. “Well, it’s only when Democrats want to put additional layers, because they understand that if there has to be a court ordered process to take place for these detainers, that we’re going to bog down the system. And in fact, many people will get out of jails that otherwise shouldn’t be released on our streets. And so the system has worked for an awful long time.”

“And like let’s be clear, why they want to take masks off of ICE agents. They want to dox them,” Marshall continued. “They want to be able to target them. And that’s not at all what law enforcement on a face for simply doing their jobs and like this is just a ruse for the left to try to implement ways to cause ice problems.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) are lauding the U.S. Department of Justice for arresting former CNN anchor Don Lemon.

Lemon was arrested Friday for his part in a recent protest by left-wing activists during a church service in Minneapolis. The justice department charged Lemon and three others with civil rights crimes for disrupting a worship service.

“Don Lemon knowingly disrupted an active church service, intimidating churchgoers seeking to worship in peace and likely violating the FACE Act,” Britt said Friday on X. “He and the other agitators should be held accountable for this cowardly ambush on people of faith.”

https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/2017267599441117469

The FACE Act is a federal law that prohibits the use of force, intimidation, or obstruction to deliberately “injure, intimidate, or interfere” with operations at an abortion facility or an individual’s ability to exercise their right to religious freedom at a place of worship.

Tuberville responded to a comment from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on X, saying that Lemon needs to go to jail for his actions.

“What a joke. Democrats weaponized the DOJ to go after a former President on made-up charges, bullied companies into silencing and debanking conservatives, and threw anyone in jail who was even near the Capitol on January 6th,” Tuberville said. “Don Lemon interrupted a church service….violating the congregants’ Constitutional rights to worship freely. He and everyone else involved NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL.”

https://x.com/CoachForGov/status/2017337280189362198

Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for Lemon, called the arrest an attack on the first amendment.

“This unprecedented attack on the first amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand,” Lowell said. “Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin is warning Alabamians not to impede on law enforcement efforts to police immigration.

According to the Leeds Alabama Police Department, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle of Jacob Garcia Martinez, who was found to be in possession of Methamphetamine and a stolen handgun. It was then discovered that Martinez is an illegal immigrant.

During the traffic stop, Mary Lisa Everling approached the officers in her vehicle. She pulled into the traffic stop and blocked the roadway, repeatedly sounded the vehicle’s horn, and was screaming. Everling was subsequentially arrested for “Obstructing Governmental Operations.”

“She got out and got between the suspect’s and the officer’s vehicle, screaming at them to let him go,” Irwin said. “You might can do that somewhere else, but not here in Alabama,” Irwin said.

“If we are on a traffic stop and if you interfere with the lawful traffic stop or arrest of someone, regardless if they are an illegal alien, where the suspect is in possession of methamphetamine, a stolen firearm and drug paraphernalia you will be arrested.”

Everling’s family is now claiming that she didn’t know the man and got out of the vehicle because officers were blocking her driveway.

According to officials, Martinez was taken into custody without further incident and charged with Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm, Receiving Stolen Property 2nd Degree, Obstructing Justice Using a False ID, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

He is currently incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail with a total bond of $55,000. Upon Martinez’s release, he will be transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s custody.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) is backing up President Donald Trump’s plan to withhold federal funds from cities and states that declare themselves sanctuaries for illegal immigrants.

“Starting February 1, we are not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens,” Trump said Monday.

The proposal comes in the wake of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota, and the Minneapolis mayor telling federal agents to leave his city.

Moore, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate, said he supports Trump’s idea.

“Well, I think it’s perfect. I mean, it’s what we voted for, right? I mean, literally, sanctuary cities don’t want federal law enforcement, but they love federal dollars,” Moore said.

“And so I don’t think you can have your cake and eat it too, if you’re going to push back against federal law enforcement, against the federal law and then in the next breath, extend your hand wanting payouts from the federal government. I think President Trump’s right, and I think he’s using the leverage he has at his disposal to try to rein in some of this fraud and some of this anti law, anti American sentiment that’s in so many of these sanctuary cities.”

The congressman also responded to recent complaints about Democrats over the ICE operations in their areas.

“Where were they when Lake and Riley was killed? I mean, it’s all political with these folks, and it has nothing to do with actually, what’s right for the US and the American citizens,” he argued.

“When they saw that it was an ICE agent, that he was guilty of murder before even the videos were released, before even we saw any of the information. There was an investigation done, and now we saw the camera, the actual police cam that was on the agent. You can hear the vehicle hitting him and so and you see the wheel spin when she steps on the gas. It was justifiable, but it should have never happened.”

Moore was referring to the incident where Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent after she allegedly tried using her vehicle as a weapon. Latest reports indicate Good was “stalking and impeding” ICE agents throughout the day of the incident.

“But the problem is, like I said, it just fits a narrative that they were looking to drive, Moore continued. “Waltz and the rest of them, I mean, we had members of Congress calling them murderers and Judiciary Committee the day after it happened, without even seeing the video. And so it just shows you that it’s not about justice. It’s not about the right thing. It’s about a political agenda, and it’s demonizing law enforcement.

“They’ve been doing it for a long term, long time, and every time a law enforcement officer in any of these cities has to react is to defend himself,” he added. “Depending on who it is, they immediately turn it they immediately turn it into a political issue. And it’s not really about protecting citizens. Like I said, when if it was an illegal alien that shot a US citizen, it wouldn’t be in the media.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall condemned recent comments by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey after protests erupted against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis.

Tensions have been high in Minneapolis after Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent after she allegedly tried using her vehicle as a weapon.

There was also an ICE related shooting Wednesday when an officer shot a man in the leg after being attacked with a shovel as he was trying to make an arrest, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Marshall discussed the issue Thursday during WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”

“All day you saw protesters break into an ice vehicle and take guns were in the truck of that that vehicle for their own use,” Marshall said. “Look, the rhetoric is over the top. We see a mayor and a governor who are inflaming the tensions in that community.”

Walz and Frey have been openly called for people to protest against ICE and have blames the law enforcement agency for committing murder against Good.

“And let’s acknowledge, even in the event yesterday, where the ice agent was attacked, they had an individual here unlawfully for which they had the lawful right to be able to pursue,” Marshall continued. “It was in that pursuit that you had three individuals attack an ice agent for simply doing their job. That’s completely unacceptable. It’s contrary to the law. The fact that that’s not being condemned by the officials in Minnesota is extremely disturbing.”

Marshall, who is also a candidate for Senate, called on the leaders in Minnesota to cooperate with federal agents if they want to actually help ease tensions in the city.

“And those men and women are simply they’re doing the job,” he argued, “and those local officials are making things exceedingly more more pronounced, and we should defend and speaks very clearly that there is no right to be able to attack and engage in violence against law enforcement of whatever nature, state, local or federal, particularly when they have a lawful right to be there and to be able to do their jobs, and that’s what’s causing in creating the chaos that’s going on in Minnesota right now.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is calling out the dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric coming from leaders in the Democratic Party after a woman was killed in Minneapolis by an ICE officer acting in self defense.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent after she allegedly tried using her vehicle as a weapon. Latest reports indicate Good was “stalking and impeding” ICE agents throughout the day of the incident.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey accused the agent of committing murder and said ICE needs to leave the city.

Britt discussed the situation Thursday on Newsmax.

“Well, first and foremost, this is a tragic situation,” Britt said. “As you said yourself, any loss of life is something that we all mourn when we look at where we are and how we got here. The left has to assume responsibility for creating an environment that should have never existed.”

https://x.com/NEWSMAX/status/2009305346201014674

Senator Britt blamed extreme rhetoric against immigration officers for creating an environment that coax people into dangerous situations.

“Their actual rhetoric about law enforcement officers and what they do in our community has been toxic, and it is a seed that has been sowing and growing for some time,” she explained. “At the end of the day, one thing that everyone needs to remember is law enforcement officers leave the safety of their home each and every day so that we can return to ours.”

Britt specifically called out Minnesota Governor Tim Walz over some of his comments on the Trump administration.

“We what we’ve seen because of the rhetoric of people like Tim Waltz is we have seen an increase of 1300% in actual assaults on ICE officers,” she said. “We have actually seen an 8,000% increase on death threats to ICE officers.”

“Look, this is absolutely ridiculous,” she added. “We need to make sure that the people of our country know that our law enforcement officers are there to keep them safe. They’re there to enforce the law, not create rhetoric that emboldens people to actually push back and and and and we we saw what happened yesterday, which was just tragic all the way around. And I think the left has got to stop you’ve got to be more responsible, and you have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people who are here to keep us safe.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

State Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Killen) believes that if you want to get a drivers license in the Yellowhammer State, you should be able to read English.

Pettus has pre-filed a legislation that would require the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to conduct driver’s license exams only in English. The bill is expected to come up in the 2026 legislative session.

“All of our road signs are in English, people need to be able to read and understand English in order to drive,” Pettus told Alabama Daily News.

The bill includes licenses for private passenger vehicles and commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).

The issue has garnered attention nationwide in recent weeks after several high profile wrecks were caused by illegal immigrant drivers of commercial vehicles.

“That’s what brought my attention to it,” Pettus explained. “The federal government says they have to be able to understand English, so they ought to be able to read in English.”

Pettus is not the first Alabama official to raise this issue in the state. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), who is also a candidate for Alabama Governor in 2026, recently helped introduce the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act in the Senate.

Tuberville’s bill that would require all commercial driver’s license (CDL) testing to be conducted in English and strengthen federal oversight of non-domiciled CDLs.

“If you drive a truck in the United States, you should be able to speak English fluently,” Tuberville said. “This protects our law enforcement officers and the general public. This is not only about safety and efficiency – it’s just commonsense.”

ALEA has also been working with the federal government on finding illegal immigrants who shouldn’t be driving commercial vehicles.

Earlier this month ALEA said their Motor Carrier Safety Unit, working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has assisted in the detention of 82 individuals identified during Commercial Motor Vehicle inspections since the partnership began just over a month ago.

According to a draft version of the Pettus’ bill, it will mandate all “written, oral, vision, and driving portions of the examination administered for purposes of obtaining or renewing a driver license must be in the English language only,” it says. “An applicant may not use a translation dictionary, an electronic device, or an interpreter to assist with the administration of the examination.”

Pettus is a retired state Trooper who also has experience managing driver’s license offices in the state.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) is pushing back against more calls by Democrats for stricter gun control laws in the country.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has been calling for more gun control in the wake of the shootings a Brown University, and the terror attack in Australia.

https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1999997858179928389

Moore, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2026, recently told WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program,” that Democrats have no credibility on this issue.

“The thing is, it doesn’t work,” Moore said. “I mean, the highest crime cities in this country are ran by Democrats that restrict gun control, and they’ll take your guns and say, Well, call the police, and then they defund the police, and then they turn loose crimes or criminals on the streets. They’re not about protecting the American people, and gun control is not the solution.”

The congressman said the Second Amendment exists for a reason.

“The right and ability to bear arms is protected by the Constitution, and that’s another thing that the left has done in this country, but it does not work,” he argued. “We saw we see it in blue cities. We see it in Australia. The best way we can protect ourselves is well funded police, national security issues, making sure we’re securing the borders like we’re doing, and arm the US citizen to defend themselves, because you can’t always wait on somebody to be there to save you.”

Moore thinks there are better ways to address the issues of crime, gun violence, and terrorism.

“We have seen time and time again in this country, in churches where armed citizens defended and saved the congregation,” he said. “And you know, there is no place to disarm us citizens. The guns are not the problem. It’s the people they’re letting in these countries and the criminal element that we’re turning loose with a no cash bail. There’s no deterrent for that, so it’s a big problem. But I think right now, Islam is we’re seeing this, this movement across the globe, and there’s 51 majority Muslim nations.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is praising President Donald Trump for taking tough actions against violent drug cartels.

Marshall, who is also a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026, has joined a 16-state coalition supporting of the Trump administration’s military strikes against cartel drug boats.

“As a nation, we are at a critical point where bold and decisive action is necessary to stop the relentless flow of illegal drugs brought in by dangerous cartels,” Marshall said. “President Trump’s commitment to protecting Americans means peace through strength.”

https://x.com/AGSteveMarshall/status/1980300402848678139

In a letter sent to President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the attorneys general note that in FY 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized nearly 22,000 lbs. of cartel-smuggled fentanyl crossing into the U.S., enough to kill the entire American population fourteen times over.

In fact, the number of Americans who have died from fentanyl is now comparable to the total U.S. casualties in World War II.

Marshall believes that the illegal drug invasion is fueling violent crime, putting law enforcement and communities at risk, and crippling the public health system. He also thinks that the President is acting within his Constitutional authority as Commander in Chief to protect the U.S. and its citizens.

“I am extremely proud of the President for taking a strong stand and targeting cartel operations,” Marshall said. “This is exactly the kind of strategic reforms our country deserves.”

Drug trafficking remains rampant in gang activity, human trafficking, and organized retail crimes, and it has significantly increased the workload for law enforcement across the nation. This influx of illegal drugs has also escalated the physical and mental health crisis, including addiction, overdose, and the spread of infectious diseases.

Joining Alabama in this Georgia-led brief are attorneys general from Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) criticized his colleagues on the other side of aisle for continuing to vote against funding the federal government.

The government shut down continued into it’s ninth day on Thursday as a majority of Democrats in the Senate again voted against a continuing resolution that would re-open the government.

Strong discussed the issue during an appearance on News Nation and spoke to the negative impacts to national security.

“Well, DHS, of course, TSA, border security, these are the ones that they’re out there every day and might not be getting a check,” Strong said.

“People are sick of it. You look at air traffic control right now, we’ve had a couple of locations that have closed, but I can assure you this, that we believe in what they’re doing, we know what they’ve done, what they’re going to do in the days ahead, and we’re going to fight to get this government back open.”

https://x.com/HomelandGOP/status/1976367498623898012

Republicans have criticized the Democrats for wanting expand subsides for Obamacare, which they argue means some of that money will pay for the healthcare of those who have entered the country illegally.

The congressman said Democrats needs to put partisan politics aside and vote to fund the government.

“They’ve got a government shutdown right now because they want health benefits for illegal aliens,” Strong argued.

“The want hundreds of millions for National Public Radio. The people in my district and throughout America are sick of it and I think that Chuck Schumer and his gang are going to pay the price in the midterms this year because people see right through it.”

https://x.com/RepDaleStrong/status/1976360410258473029

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) believes some of the extreme rhetoric from the left-wing in America is contributing to political violence in the country, including the shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas Wednesday.

Authorities identified 29-year old Joshua Jahn as the suspect who opened fire at the ICE facility Wednesday morning, killing two detainees before turning the gun on himself.

A photo posted on X by FBI Director Kash Patel showed that the rounds were engraved with an “anti-ICE” message.

https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1970877754221498599

Moore, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2026, reacted to the attack Wednesday on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”

“Well, I think it’s a continued escalation of violence by the left, it seems like, in this country,” Moore said. “And it starts with rhetoric, as it always does, and then you start seeing them push back against the authority. And in this case, it was ICE trying to do their jobs and round up some of these folks that need to be rounded up and taken out of the country, whether they’re TDA, MS-13, that they’re here illegally, whatever that looks like.”

The congressman said most of the recent political violence in the country has been against those on the right.

“And so as a society, it seems like the left continues to move towards violence,” he argued, “and the anti gun crowd are always the ones with the guns shooting at the conservatives who are just trying to do the right thing for the country and agents who are hired and paid by us to clean up the mess that was made under Joe Biden’s open border policies.

Moore said law enforcement needs our support now more than ever.

“So it’s unfortunate Yaffee, and there has to be consequences,” he said, “and we have to continue to support law enforcement, whatever that looks like as a society. We have to start standing for law and order, and we can allow this sort of chaos to continue.”

He also thinks conservative have to continue to be bold and stand up for what is right.

“Now we have to speak truth in darkness, and it’s a spiritual battle,” he said. “It is a spiritual battle for the future of our country, and I think that it’s absolutely evil what we’re seeing happen on the other side, and that’s why we have to condemn this sort of stuff. And we have to understand the battle we are fighting.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) thinks it’s past time for Congress to close a loophole in the law that incentivizes the mass illegal migration of unaccompanied alien children to the southern border and leads to them being released into the U.S.

Britt discussed the issue during the Senate Judiciary Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee Hearing titled, “Another Biden Blunder: Missing Unaccompanied Alien Children and Criminal Sponsors.”

“I believe we need to amend Section 235 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, which is primarily the loophole that is used in our laws to incentivize the illegal [migration] of UAC to our southern border,” Britt said. “I’ve been proud to cosponsor a number of bills that will actually do just that.”

https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/1968702662557274461

Witnesses at the hearing included former Chief Border Patrol Agent Chris Clem who provided insight into how loopholes allowing known gang members to enter and be released into the United States can be closed. He also discussed how Congress can take steps in this area of the law to prioritize the safety of American citizens.

“Once we’ve done an initial screening to ensure that [UAC are] not, you know, trafficked or not victims of any kind of abuse,” Clem said. “But once that (is) cleared, we should treat them and get them back to their home country as quickly as possible … I think that would close a loophole and … come up with a more clear and direct process for someone to lawfully immigrate to the United States versus sending their child in here and hoping they can reconnect later.”

Britt explained the staggering numbers of UACs they’ve seen at the southern border in recent years.

“More than 400,000 UACs were released to sponsors by the Biden-Harris Administration, which is a 100% increase compared to that of the first Trump Administration,” she said. “Most of them were teenage boys. And if you look at it, nearly 70% of UACs referred to HHS were 15 years of age or older … The (House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement) report also found that HHS did not have a policy to refer known gang members to the Justice Department.”

“It’s worth noting and remembering that the Biden-Harris Administration released a 17-year-old MS13 gang member who had entered the country as a UAC and then went on to sexually assault and murder 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton,” she added.

Senator Britt has long voiced disapproval of the Biden-Harris Administration’s handling of UAC and has advocated for reforms to protect children from potential abuses and exploitation. She previously supported a Congressional Review Act resolution that would overturn a Biden-era rule that perpetuated the endangerment of unaccompanied migrant children. Senator Britt also signed a letter urging the Biden-Harris administration to prevent UAC from being placed into the hands of unvetted sponsors who often abuse and exploit them.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is hoping his state will follow Florida’s lead and help the Trump administration by making a facility available to temporarily detain illegal immigrants arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” the facility is a state-funded immigration detention site Florida built at the remote Dade-Collier Training & Transition Airport in the Everglades to give ICE additional capacity to hold migrants pending removal.

Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe sued, arguing the state sidestepped federal environmental review requirements. On Sept. 4, a divided 11th Circuit panel (2–1) put a lower court’s shutdown order on hold, noting the record showed no federal funding that would trigger NEPA, which allows Florida to keep the site operating while the appeal proceeds.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit lifted a lower court’s order Thursday that blocked use of the “Alligator Alcatraz” ICE detention facility in the Sunshine State.

Marshall, who is also a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026, discussed the issue during a recent appearance on “Just the News: No Noise” show.

“I think we’re going to call it Yellowhammer-something,” Marshall quipped. “When you look at the history of our state.”

Amanda Head, one of the hosts of the show, responded that it should be named “the Alabama Slammer.”

The attorney general said he liked that idea.

“There we go,” Marshall responded. “I will pass that on to the appropriate authorities.”

Marshall also explained how Alabama has already been helping President Trump on this issue.

“You know, interestingly, we have facilities in Alabama in which we house illegals that are otherwise in the immigration system,” he explained. “The fact that Florida built this facility for the federal government to use, and a district judge in Florida was going to say, ‘You didn’t follow one provision that applies to a federal contractor these facilities,’ to not only shut down the ability to house these folks are here unlawfully, but to cause this destruction was completely wrong.”

Marshall said the Court of Appeals ruling will effectively encourage other states to help ICE as well.

“The 11th Circuit was able to weigh in to allow Florida to continue to do that the work they’re doing,” he argued. “And look this bill sets the stage for other states to be able to assist the Trump administration and Secretary Noem in dealing with what the Joe Biden administration cause. That’s the influx of illegals that now the Trump administration is going to deal with effectively.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is calling out her colleagues on the other side of the political aisle for allowing the far left to dictate their mainstream agenda and approach to leading.

When it comes to issues like crime, immigration, the economy, and transgenders in women’s sports, Britt believes the Democrats haven’t learned their lesson after President Donald Trump’s victory last November.

The senator discussed these issues Wednesday on “Alabama’s Morning News with JT.”

“[O]nce again they are allowing the far left to run their agenda and to run their party,” Britt said. “And this is why they lost on November 5. They are fighting to make sure that biological boys can play and biological girls sports. I mean, they are, you know, sitting here saying, No, we need wide open borders, and there’s no way to stop, stop the flow. They want to even send taxpayer dollars, hard earned American taxpayer dollars, to the people who came here illegally.”

Britt said the America people support Trump because they support common sense.

“They don’t want to actually crack down and say, ‘We will not have crime on our street, and we will do what it takes to keep people safe.’ I mean, common sense has gone out the window,” she argued. “And look, this was the most litigated issue of the last four years, and the American people said, ‘If you don’t have borders, you don’t have a country.’ And we are ready for for some safety, some security and some stability. And so, I mean, you think about all of the things, I mean, they stood up literally, and voted against, you know us, no no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, the things that we were doing to her to help hard working families.”

The senator has also been very supportive of Trump’s recent actions to combat crime in Washington D.C.

“I mean, you think about the crime rate in DC. And President Trump has laid it in front of the American people,” she explained. “He has put it in front and said, look at the capital of Colombia, look at the capital of this, this, this. He’s gone down one by one and shown how disproportionate the crime is there in Washington, D.C. It’s simply unacceptable in the greatest country in the world. We should, people should be able to come, school groups should be able to come, families should be able to come, and listen, young people should be able to come and work for their state, work for their country without fear of having to walk home to their apartment or their hotel at night safely. I, for one, this is personal, you know that I had a staffer that was actually held at gunpoint, you know, just over a year ago.”

Britt said that Trump is willing to take action unlike former leaders on this issue.

“And so, you know, we’ve got to clean this up. President Trump is doing what no one else has done before: over a thousand arrests, over a hundred illegal firearms seized. And so, he’s doing what should have been done a long time ago. And I have a feeling it’s going to be a model for doing it across the country unless these mayors and governors step up and do it themselves.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Department of Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy on Tuesday threatened to pull tens of millions in federal highway safety dollars from several states unless they start enforcing the Trump administration’s English-language proficiency rules for commercial truck drivers. 

Sec. Duffy, as well as the Alabama Trucking Association, believe this hard line enforcement is an overdue next step and should be only the beginning.

“This is another important action by President Trump to ensure the safety and fairness of America’s trucking industry,” Mark Colson, Alabama Trucking Association President and CEO said.

“In Alabama, the Alabama Trucking Association has been working diligently on this issue and many others with our federal delegation, the Governor’s office, and law enforcement, and we will continue to advocate for the highest standards for safety and security in transportation that will create a level playing field for Alabama’s hard-working trucking professionals.”

RELATED: Tuberville, Alabama truckers back Trump order requiring truck drivers to pass English proficiency tests

Sec. Duffy’s warning comes in the wake of a horrific and deadly Florida Turnpike crash involving Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant accused of making an illegal U-turn that killed three people. 

Duffy said the driver never should have been on the road and that English-proficiency failures in several states are putting families at risk.

https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1960331366593163616

The department says the three states have done tens of thousands of roadside inspections since the rules took effect in June, but have almost never taken drivers off the road for failing English requirements.

California sidelined just one driver for ELP violations, Washington four, and New Mexico zero. 

Duffy gave each state 30 days to comply or lose Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program funding, which includes roughly $33 million for California, $10.5 million for Washington and $7 million for New Mexico.

“As we said following the President’s Executive Order enforcing the English Language Proficiency standards, there are additional issues that need to be addressed urgently to ensure highway safety and prevent bad actors from operating such as the improper issuance of non-domiciled CDLs by a number of states. Another major issue involves cross-border visa drivers overstaying their allowances and hauling domestic freight, which is already illegal,” Colson said. 

Colson’s group has been vocal that the English rule isn’t new. It’s just finally being enforced. 

Alabama officers have already begun issuing citations to drivers who can’t communicate with law enforcement or read road signs, among the first since the federal policy shift took effect.

But, Sec. Duffy and Colson agree, there is more work to be done.

“We must address fraudulent or non-compliant CDL training providers who do not uphold existing entry level training standards. These training providers must not be allowed to operate. Additionally, stricter measures are required to combat the fraudulent use of USDOT numbers and the manipulation of motor carrier (MC) numbers. These tactics enable bad actors and cargo thieves to operate by acquiring legitimate MC numbers to carry out their schemes,” Colson said. 

“Addressing and correcting these issues will not only create a safer environment on our roads and highways, but also increase our national security.”