MONTGOMERY — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey approved a grant July 10, of nearly $200,000 to a nonprofit organization that provides training to law enforcement on methods for combatting sex trafficking.

Covenant Rescue Group is based in Jefferson County and offers its training to law enforcement agencies statewide. Its instructors are former law enforcement officers and special operations veterans. Along with training, the organization provides initial surveillance and rescue operations and offers referrals to victims for support and recovery.

“Our men and women in law enforcement should have access to tools and techniques that help them protect the people in their communities from exploitation,” Ivey said. “I am pleased to award this grant to an organization working to stop those criminals who seek to victimize vulnerable people.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Many law enforcement agencies may lack the resources and expertise to investigate or respond to this type of crime,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of these and other efforts to crack down on sex trafficking.”

ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.

In May, the U.S. Department of Labor asked a federal judge to prevent Hyundai and two other Alabama companies from what the government contends is the illegal employment of children, the Associated Press reported.

The complaint follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division that found a 13-year-old worked between 50 and 60 hours a week operating machines on an assembly line that formed sheet metal into auto body parts.

According to AP, Hyundai said in a statement that it cooperated fully with the Labor Department and that it is unfair to be held accountable for the practices of its suppliers.

“We are reviewing the new lawsuit and intend to vigorously defend the company,” the statement said.