The operations in which federal agents work vehicles are stopped Blockades on South Carolina freeways continued this week, this time on Interstate 85 between the towns of Spartanburg and Greenville, according to reports from groups and organizations in both states. “Over the past three days, we have received several reports on social media about federal agents conducting traffic stops and arrests along Interstate 85 in South Carolina, between Spartanburg and Greenville. Most of the vehicles stopped "They are work trucks or vans," the organization Siembra NC stated through its Facebook account. This is the multi-state SafeDRIVE operation According to reports from South Carolina law enforcement agencies, a joint road safety operation involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies was indeed carried out from Tuesday, May 12th to Thursday, May 14th in Spartanburg County. This was the multi-state operation “SafeDRIVE” led by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and local and state law enforcement agencies. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) posted the following on its Facebook page: “Spartanburg County drivers will see increased surveillance on I-85 in the coming days as the South Carolina State Transportation Police participate in Operation SafeDRIVE (Distracted Reckless Visibility Enforcement), a multi-state law enforcement effort aimed at reducing collisions with Commercial Vehicles and unsafe driving behaviors near commercial vehicles.”“The State Transportation Police will work with local, state, and federal partners, focusing on all aspects of transportation.” traffic violations“with special emphasis on dangerous and distracted driving behavior, vehicle compliance checks and criminal interdiction,” the publication adds. Related article: Heading to the beach? Find out which Carolina counties have 287(g) agreements with ICE Image of the operation captured by a traffic camera shared by the GVL Hotline group on their Facebook page. There is concern that work trucks are being targeted. Because many of the vehicles being stopped are work vans, organizations and groups in South Carolina have expressed concern that construction or landscaping workers are being targeted by this operation. “Apparently, these operations are intended to correct unauthorized drivers. However, the biggest concern is that during these operations, undocumented people traveling in their cars or work trucks are being targeted,” he told Enlace Latino NCDulce López, Immigrant Rights Advocacy Strategist at ACLU in South Carolina. López said that people should know that Even though they are undocumented, they have rights. and that they can exercise them, for example, by carrying the “red cards”, which the organizations are handing out and which contain their constitutional rights. "The right to remain silent, to not open the door, or even to not be searched without a court order," he said. He also suggested that people reach out to groups like “Grenville Hotline,” which has volunteers who document and verify the sightings and operations from immigration agents. “If people are victims of a violation of their rights, they can approach the ACLU and fill out a form where they can share their story so that we can document it and provide support in some way,” López said. You can follow the page GVL Hotline/GVL Greenville Community Immigrant Hotline on your page Facebookto stay informed about verified immigration operations. You can report ICE sightings to: (864) 874-9373, you can also follow the GSP ICE Watch en Facebook or Instagram to stay informed about verified immigration operations. ACLU South Carolina: Email: info@aclusc.org. Phone: (803) 828-3161. Related: Are you observing an immigration operation? Know what you can and cannot do according to the law. It has been operating since January on routes in 26 states. According to USDOTThe “SafeDRIVE” operation has been running since January in Washington DC and 26 states, including North Carolina and South Carolina, as an enforcement and education effort focused on reducing dangerous driving behaviors, ensuring drivers are properly qualified, and addressing the management of unsafe drivers and vehicles on the nation’s roads. The first of these operations was carried out between January 13 and 15 in these states, resulting in 8,215 inspections; 704 drivers were taken out of service (including 500 for violations for not speaking English). In addition, 1,231 vehicles were taken out of service and 56 arrests were made, including drivers who were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and without legal documentation. SafeDRIVE covers trucker routes in 26 states: South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. PODCAST After the storm A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity. 🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience. ▶️Press play to listen!