Transportation Secretary Criticizes California’s CDL Policies
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has expressed strong disapproval of California’s decision to issue commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to undocumented immigrants. This criticism comes in the wake of a tragic accident on Tuesday involving a driver from India that resulted in three fatalities.
Duffy pointed out that California is not adhering to federal mandates which call for the cancellation of non-domicile CDLs for illegal immigrants and temporary residents, proposing instead more stringent criteria that focus on specific employment-related visas.
This directive was put in place after a series of deadly incidents involving undocumented drivers.
“We have government systems designed to keep families safe when they travel, and those systems have been compromised,” Duffy remarked.
He noted the alarming nature of granting licenses to non-citizens to operate massive vehicles—pointing out that this issue presents a serious risk to public safety that must be addressed swiftly.
Duffy also accused California of neglecting his orders, linking the latest tragedy on Interstate 10 in Ontario to this noncompliance.
The collision involved eight vehicles, four of which were semi-trucks, and resulted in a significant fire. Reports indicated that a truck driven by 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh was speeding and under the influence of drugs when he crashed into another vehicle. Singh, who is an undocumented immigrant residing in Yuba City, was arrested and now faces several charges including gross negligence and DUI.
This incident left three individuals dead and injured four others, including Singh and a mechanic who was working on the roadside. Singh has pleaded not guilty and could face immigration repercussions.
“My thoughts are with the families affected by this tragedy,” Duffy stated. “If Gavin Newsom had abided by our regulations, we wouldn’t be in this situation. California violated the law, leading to these deaths. Those responsible should face justice.”
In a recent review, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration highlighted serious problems with California’s licensing system, noting “systemic policy, procedural, and programming errors.”
Additionally, it was revealed that CDLs were issued without valid addresses and even after work permits had expired, prompting the Department of Transportation (DOT) to initiate emergency interventions.
Duffy remarked, “We have guidelines for license issuance, which Newsom has chosen to disregard—allowing undocumented individuals to receive upgraded licenses.” He emphasized the need to prioritize public safety and prevent untrained foreign individuals from obtaining licenses illegally.
California had issued Singh a CDL back in June and he received an upgraded license shortly before the accident, despite the ongoing warnings about licensing regulations.
The DOT has mandated that California must revoke all non-compliant licenses and cease issuing new non-domiciled CDLs within 30 days, or face federal penalties.
