California to Revoke Licenses for 17,000 Immigrants

California is set to rescind commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to 17,000 immigrants, following pressure from the Trump administration. These licenses, it seems, would have expired after the drivers were legally permitted in the country.

“After weeks of claiming no wrongdoing, Gavin Newsom and California have been caught in a lie. Thanks to our revelations, 17,000 improperly issued truck licenses will now be revoked,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated. He suggested that this is just the beginning and his team will keep pressing California to ensure that all illegal immigrants are removed from its semi-truck and school bus driving roles.

According to the Transportation Bureau, those impacted have been informed that their licenses fail to meet federal criteria and will lapse in 60 days. In response, Newsom’s office contended that the federal mandates in question weren’t applicable when the licenses were granted.

In a series of pointed social media messages, Newsom’s office pushed back against Duffy’s claims, arguing that the assertion that California’s Department of Land Transportation admitted to illegally issuing the licenses was erroneous. They further maintained that these licenses were revoked due to violations of California law rather than any federal directives.

Moreover, Newsom’s team disputed the department’s assertion that the license holders were illegal immigrants, affirming that they were in the U.S. legally and authorized to work by federal standards. They also contested the notion that a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) analysis indicated a significant number of non-domicile CDL records in California didn’t meet federal regulations, claiming, instead, that the FMCSA’s findings were based on applying new rules retroactively.

Duffy, however, countered, insisting that California is being reprimanded for failing to follow the law and the FMCSA’s rules. He described the situation as an egregious disregard for these regulations.

Interestingly, this decision to revoke the licenses came just a day before Harijinder Singh, who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally, is set to face court proceedings related to a crash in Florida that resulted in three fatalities in 2018. Singh faces charges of vehicular homicide, after allegedly making an illegal U-turn in what has been described as a brutal accident.

Further complicating matters, Singh reportedly failed English and road sign tests shortly after the accident. His extradition from California to Florida occurred in August, indicating ongoing legal entanglements.

Moreover, another case involved Jashanpreet Singh, an illegal immigrant from India who received a CDL from California and later faced DUI manslaughter charges for a fatal crash. Reports suggest he had initial encounters with Border Patrol in California but was released while awaiting immigration inspection.

In both instances, it’s clear that the issue of licensing for immigrant drivers presents a challenging and contentious landscape, blending legal, regulatory, and societal considerations into a complex narrative.