The California government plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants, citing unspecified violations of state law. This announcement comes in the wake of tightened federal scrutiny regarding the issuance of such licenses. Governor Gavin Newsom asserted that the licensing revocations are not a direct response to federal immigration concerns, even as the Trump administration previously highlighted issues surrounding undocumented individuals holding commercial licenses.
The rationale behind the revocations was described vaguely, and officials did not elaborate on the specific state law violations. Governor Newsom's office emphasized that all affected drivers had valid work authorizations at the time of licensure.
This decision follows a nationwide audit conducted by federal authorities, which was prompted by several tragic incidents involving drivers without legal immigration status. For instance, a driver associated with this controversy allegedly caused a deadly crash in Florida, raising alarms over safety in the trucking sector.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized California's actions as indicative of a failure to uphold proper licensing standards. He highlighted findings suggesting that a significant portion of reviewed licenses during investigations should not have been issued due to expired work permits or other irregularities.
Furthermore, Duffy has recently imposed stricter criteria for immigrants seeking commercial licenses, limiting eligibility primarily to specific visa holders. Newsom’s administration, however, has defended its initial licensing framework, stating it followed guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security.
This situation reflects the ongoing tension between state and federal policies on immigration and driver licensing. There are concerns about how these restrictions will affect the operational capacity of the trucking and transportation sectors in California, crucial for the state's economy.
