Transportation Secretary’s Warning to California on Driver’s Licenses
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated during a Fox News interview on Thursday that California might face a ban on issuing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) if it persists in granting them to undocumented immigrants.
This statement follows a tragic incident on Tuesday in which an undocumented immigrant driving a tractor-trailer, suspected of being under the influence of drugs, caused a crash that claimed three lives near Ontario, California. On Thursday, the Department of Transportation expressed concerns that California is disregarding revised guidelines established in September for CDL applications from noncitizens.
“Regarding our regulations, I’ve already received $40 million from California,” Duffy shared on “Hannity.” “I’m currently reviewing their compliance with our rules. Plus, I have the capability to extract nearly an additional $160 million. If they don’t adhere to the rules designed to protect Americans, I’ll have to reconsider their issuing of commercial driver’s licenses.”
In response to previous accidents—like the one in August where an illegal U-turn by an undocumented driver on a Florida highway led to three fatalities—the Department of Transportation has tightened its CDL issuance criteria for non-citizens.
During an appearance on FOX Business Network on October 15, Duffy announced his intention to withhold $40 million in federal funds from California. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has been vocal in opposing the Trump administration’s stance on illegal immigration, even going so far as to challenge the government’s deployment of the National Guard in response to ICE-related riots.
Duffy remarked, “Every state has complied, except California. It seems like Gavin Newsom prioritizes illegal immigrants over the safety of Californians and citizens nationwide. We’re utilizing every measure available. Those $40 million will not go to California,” he told co-host Jackie DeAngelis.
Additionally, Duffy urged other states to review and revoke CDLs that may have been improperly issued in September. “California must act swiftly, or I will not hesitate to pull millions more,” he warned. “States across the nation should eliminate any incorrectly issued CDLs immediately. We owe it to the American public to ensure that only legal, qualified drivers are on our highways.”
