New York Driver’s Licenses for Immigrants without Names

ALBANY – New York is issuing driver’s licenses to immigrants without requiring a name.

This issue gained attention when Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt mentioned that 125 undocumented immigrants in his state were involved in an incident, during which one held a New York commercial driver’s license that lacked a name.

“If New York is handing out CDLs to undocumented immigrants without requiring names, that’s on them. But when they come to Oklahoma, they have to follow our laws,” Stitt remarked in a social media post, sharing a photo of the license.

A New York DMV spokesperson confirmed that the license in question, issued on April 14 and set to expire on May 26, 2028, is legitimate.

Walter Mclure, a DMV representative, stated, “This commercial driver’s license was issued following all necessary procedures, including identity verification against federally issued documents.” He added that the individual involved had “legal status” in the U.S. through a federal employment permit, thus adhering to federal guidelines.

Mclure explained that having only one name is not uncommon for individuals from other countries.

It remains unclear how many licenses of this nature have been issued.

In response to inquiries about Stitt’s reference, Mclure mentioned he could only identify the individual based on the information provided in the tweet’s images.

He did not comment on whether the DMV is assisting with the Oklahoma investigation.

According to Stitt’s office, during their operation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol spotted several commercial drivers with licenses from the “Sanctuary State,” including those without names, leading to 125 arrests.

Stitt’s office remarked, “These individuals pose public safety risks by driving commercial vehicles exceeding 80,000 pounds without proper verification.”

There was no response from Stitt’s office regarding whether anyone with a “nameless” license is currently detained or facing charges.

Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has amplified this issue, indicating that it may influence her campaign against Governor Kathy Hochul in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

“Time and again, Kathy Hochul prioritizes illegals and criminals over hardworking New Yorkers,” lawmakers from North Country commented.

This year, Hochul faced a lawsuit from the Department of Justice concerning New York’s “Green Light Law,” which permits non-citizens to obtain driver’s licenses. The federal government described the law as a “direct challenge” to immigration enforcement, and the case is still progressing in court.

Under the Green Light Law, individuals are not eligible for commercial driver’s licenses.

Hochul’s office did not respond to requests for comment and referred to the DMV’s statement instead.

During her tenure as a county clerk, Hochul was opposed to granting driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.

“I led the campaign against issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants,” she stated in a campaign advertisement.