Key points
- Licenses expired beyond legal stay dates
- Trump administration criticises state’s licensing practices
- New federal rules limit noncitizen license eligibility
ISLAMABAD: California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced it will revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants after discovering that the licenses expired beyond the dates when the drivers were legally permitted to stay in the U.S. The move follows mounting criticism from the Trump administration over states issuing licenses to individuals in the country illegally.
The issue surfaced after a fatal crash in Florida in August, where an unlicensed driver caused a crash that killed three people. This raised concerns about the validity of commercial licenses granted to noncitizens, reports AP News.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office clarified that all drivers whose licenses are being revoked had valid work authorizations at the time of issuance but violated a state law requiring licenses to expire when the driver’s legal status ends.
California’s actions
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blasted California’s actions, accusing the state of “lies” and stating that the revocation proves the state acted improperly. Duffy also warned that his team would continue to monitor California’s compliance and demanded that the state take further action to ensure no undocumented individuals are driving trucks or buses.
In response, Newsom’s spokesperson, Brandon Richards, defended the state, accusing Duffy of spreading false information. Meanwhile, the federal government has imposed stricter rules for commercial driver’s licenses, limiting eligibility to specific visa holders, with only 10,000 noncitizens expected to qualify under the new guidelines.
California faces a potential $160 million loss in federal funding if it does not fully comply with new regulations and address all concerns regarding these licenses. The drivers affected will have 60 days to renew or face the revocation of their licenses.
