Illinois Republican Rep. Mary Miller’s Bill Against Sanctuary State Licensing
Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican from Illinois, has strongly criticized the Democratic administration, particularly Governor JB Pritzker. She introduced a bill aimed at tackling what she terms “gambling with American life,” relating to the issue of commercial driver’s licenses being issued to illegal immigrants.
Called The Safe Driving Laws Act, Miller’s proposal highlights the dangers posed by 19 sanctuary states that permit illegal immigrants to obtain both individual and commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). Her office indicated that if the bill passes, federal funds from the National Highway Performance and Surface Transport Block Grant Program would be withheld from states that issue driving licenses to illegal immigrants.
States not in compliance by the start of the fiscal year 2027, which commences in October 2026, would face a funding reduction of 50% from these programs for that fiscal year and the following year.
Miller noted that the penalties associated with this bill would be among the most severe at the federal level, exceeding those for not enforcing the federal drinking age, which is an 8% reduction.
Her office has estimated that sanctuary states could potentially lose millions, even billions, in federal transportation funds. For instance, with projections for 2025, California could face a loss of around $1.9 billion, while Illinois and New York might lose approximately $788 million and $900 million, respectively.
In response, a spokesman for California Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the bill as a “witch hunt based on lies” targeting states adhering to federal laws.
The context for this legislation includes a tragic incident involving an illegal immigrant, Haljinder Singh, who is facing charges for making an illegal U-turn in Florida that resulted in three fatalities. Singh, who had received work authorization from the Biden administration, was licensed first in Washington in 2023 and obtained a CDL in California in 2024.
After the accident, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Bureau looked into Singh’s English language skills and comprehension of road signage. The findings were concerning—he could only correctly identify one out of four road signs and answered correctly on just two out of twelve questions regarding his understanding of English.
Alongside penalizing states for issuing illegal licenses, Miller’s legislation also targets states that restrict local agencies from obtaining immigration enforcement information from the Department of Homeland Security. It further mandates that both the Secretaries of Transportation and Homeland Security maintain public records of state compliance or violations.
Miller explicitly criticized Illinois state leaders, asserting that “sanctuaries like Illinois are gambling with American lives by issuing driver licenses and CDLs to illegal immigrants.”
She underlined the dangerous impact of such policies, insisting that her bill would compel these states to comply with federal regulations or risk substantial funding losses.
Fox News Digital attempted to contact the offices of both Governor Pritzker and New York Governor Kathy Hochul for their comments on the bill but did not receive an immediate response.
