New York's Immigrant Driver Licenses Under Federal Scrutiny

Sat Dec 13 2025 21:42:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is threatening to withhold funding from New York over claims that the state improperly issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants, raising significant concerns about road safety and regulatory compliance.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy alleges that New York has issued commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants in violation of federal regulations, with more than half of the reviewed licenses found to be improperly issued. This comes in the wake of an incident involving an unauthorized driver linked to a fatal accident. New York officials maintain they are compliant with federal rules and defend their practices. The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between federal oversight and state regulations regarding immigrant licenses.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has raised alarms over New York’s issuance of commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants, asserting that the state may be violating federal regulations. He has threatened to withhold $73 million in highway funds unless the perceived issues are addressed.

Duffy's concerns stem from a review where over half of the 200 licenses examined were issued improperly, allowing licenses to maintain validity beyond the expiration of an immigrant's work permit. This scrutiny follows a tragic accident in Florida caused by a driver who was in the U.S. illegally.

On the other hand, New York officials have pushed back against these claims, asserting their adherence to federal regulations and emphasizing their processes for verifying immigration status. DMV spokesperson Walter McClure stated that Duffy's assertions are unfounded and intended to divert attention from the problems within the current federal administration.

The situation reflects a broader national conversation about the role of immigrants in the trucking industry, with estimates suggesting that approximately 20% of the nation's truck drivers are immigrants, yet the contested non-domiciled licenses constitute only about 5% of all commercial licenses.

This conflict also places New York in a pattern of scrutiny faced by other states led by Democratic governors, with Duffy previously threatening similar actions in California and Pennsylvania over compliance with record-keeping related to immigrant drivers.

As the federal investigation progresses, New York is under pressure to clarify its policies, particularly regarding the substantial number of non-domiciled commercial licenses that have been issued. Critics warn that if such trends continue, it could lead to safety risks on the roads due to unverified drivers operating large commercial vehicles.