The federal government’s crackdown on commercial driver’s licenses for immigrants has identified significant problems in eight states following several fatal truck accidents. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has indicated he may withhold millions in federal funding from states like California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and New York due to findings of licenses remaining valid after an immigrant's legal status has expired.
This heightened scrutiny was sparked by tragic incidents, such as an illegal U-turn by a truck driver in Florida that claimed three lives, along with another deadly crash in California involving an undocumented driver. In response, Duffy has proposed new regulations aimed at restricting noncitizens from obtaining commercial licenses, though current litigation has stalled these measures.
Issues have been noted across various states including Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington, where the federal investigations spotlight the issuance of licenses that do not meet federal requirements. Findings indicate that some licenses were issued improperly, raising alarms about public safety and enforcement of immigration verification processes.
In New York alone, federal investigators concluded that more than half of the 200 licenses reviewed were improperly issued, prompting urgent calls for a comprehensive audit and revocation of illegally issued licenses. This situation has prompted states to come under intense pressure from federal authorities striving to ensure road safety and compliance with immigration laws.
As investigations unfold, the federal administration is also focusing on enforcing English language requirements for truck drivers, leading to the removal of thousands from the roads due to compliance failures. The push to reform truck licensing will likely continue amid ongoing political debates regarding immigration and public safety.
