Key Takeaways
- The federal government has found problems with commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants in eight states, including California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington.
- The Transportation Department has threatened to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from these states if they do not address the issues and revoke any licenses that were improperly issued.
- The crackdown on commercial driver’s licenses for immigrants comes after several deadly crashes involving truck drivers who were not authorized to be in the US.
- The Transportation Department has proposed new restrictions on which noncitizens can get a commercial driver’s license, but a court has put the new rules on hold.
- Approximately 9,500 truck drivers have been pulled off the road nationwide for failing to demonstrate English proficiency during traffic stops or inspections.
Introduction to the Issue
The federal government’s crackdown on commercial driver’s licenses for immigrants has found problems in eight states, including California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington. The Transportation Department, led by Secretary Sean Duffy, has threatened to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from these states if they do not address the issues and revoke any licenses that were improperly issued. The crackdown comes after several deadly crashes involving truck drivers who were not authorized to be in the US, including a tractor-trailer driver who made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people.
California’s Response
California was one of the first states to be targeted by the Transportation Department, after it was discovered that the driver involved in the Florida crash had obtained a commercial driver’s license in the state. The state initially pushed back against the federal government’s demands, with Governor Gavin Newsom defending California’s practices and saying that the state had verified the immigration status of all drivers through federal databases. However, after further review, California revoked 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses, which has since grown to 21,000. Despite this, the Transportation Department still revoked $40 million in federal funding, citing California’s failure to enforce English language requirements for truckers.
Other States Affected
In addition to California, several other states have been affected by the Transportation Department’s crackdown. Pennsylvania, for example, may lose nearly $75 million in federal funding if it does not address the issues with its commercial driver’s license program. The Transportation Department found that several licenses were valid after the driver’s lawful presence in the country ended, and that the state had not required noncitizens to provide legitimate proof of their immigration status. Minnesota, meanwhile, may lose $30.4 million in federal funding if it does not address shortcomings in its commercial driver’s license program. New York has also been targeted, with the Transportation Department finding that more than half of the 200 licenses reviewed were issued improperly.
Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington
The Transportation Department has also sent letters to Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington, detailing concerns about their commercial driver’s license programs. In Texas, nearly half of the 123 licenses reviewed were found to be flawed, and the state may lose $182 million in federal funding if it does not reform its licensing programs. South Dakota may lose $13.25 million, while Colorado may lose funding due to a glitch in its computer system that can result in licenses being issued for longer than they should be. Washington may lose $31.35 million, after investigators found problems with 10% of the 125 licenses reviewed.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The Transportation Department’s crackdown on commercial driver’s licenses for immigrants is a response to several deadly crashes involving truck drivers who were not authorized to be in the US. While some states have pushed back against the federal government’s demands, others have taken steps to address the issues and revoke any licenses that were improperly issued. The Transportation Department has proposed new restrictions on which noncitizens can get a commercial driver’s license, but a court has put the new rules on hold. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the states will respond to the federal government’s demands and what the ultimate impact will be on the commercial driver’s license program.
