Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman is criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul for allegedly endangering New Yorkers by issuing commercial truck driver’s licenses (CDLs) to undocumented immigrants.
Blakeman claimed that nearly half of the CDLs distributed by Hochul were given to individuals who are undocumented, some of whom reportedly lack basic English literacy skills, according to reports.
The candidate further condemned Hochul for issuing permits to immigrants who didn’t provide complete names, with many licenses recorded as “No Name Specified” where the driver’s name should appear. This process allegedly occurred without verifying the immigrants’ legal status, potentially breaching federal safety regulations.
“Governor Hochul knowingly puts New Yorkers at risk by giving commercial licenses to individuals unfit to operate large vehicles, and the results can be tragic,” Blakeman asserted.
In her defense, Hochul stated that New York’s CDLs comply with federal standards, although the state also has its laws mandating these licenses be issued to undocumented individuals.
A December ruling by a liberal judge allowed this state law to take precedence over federal guidelines, enabling New York’s “green light” law to grant licenses without proof of legal residency.
Blakeman pointed out that recently two individuals with New York state CDLs were involved in fatal accidents. One incident occurred on November 14 in Indiana, where undocumented immigrant Goderj Gujabidze, licensed in Brooklyn, caused a crash that killed a 23-year-old National Guardsman. Another fatality involved CDL holder Eason Huang in Tennessee.
“Hochul’s policies let unvetted individuals drive large trucks legally in our communities. This is a serious public safety failure,” Blakeman emphasized.
He continued, “My administration would prioritize public safety and ensure that licenses go to hard-working New Yorkers who abide by the rules.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and President Trump are working to address rising accidents attributed to undocumented immigrants obtaining CDLs improperly. Duffy accused Hochul of adopting licensing practices that infringe upon federal laws.
“What New York is doing is wrong—granting an eight-year CDL to anyone with a temporary work permit is against the law,” Duffy commented during a December press conference.
In April, President Trump issued an executive order mandating Duffy to enforce English proficiency regulations for drivers to enhance road safety. Duffy also warned of the possibility of withholding substantial funds from California for its lenient policies on undocumented immigrants driving trucks.
