Summary
The U.S. Transportation Department blocked over $73.5 million in federal funds to New York because the state did not cancel nearly 33,000 commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to immigrants that failed a safety audit. The department says many of these licenses remained valid even after the immigrants’ authorization to stay ended, and New York was ordered to review and revoke illegal licenses.
Key Facts
- New York faces a loss of more than $73.5 million in federal money due to issues with immigrant trucker licenses.
- About 33,000 questionable commercial driver’s licenses were issued to immigrants in New York.
- An audit found over half of 200 reviewed licenses had problems, such as being valid after immigration status expired.
- The Transportation Department wants New York to review all such licenses and revoke those that are illegal.
- Other states, including California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and North Carolina, are also facing funding issues over similar license problems.
- Immigrants make up roughly 20% of all truck drivers nationwide but only about 5% hold non-domiciled licenses like those in question.
- New rules will stop 97% of these foreign drivers from getting commercial licenses again.
- New York officials say they comply with federal law and defend their licensing process.
- The Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has previously withheld or threatened funds from New York over other issues, including subway projects and congestion pricing.
- Trucking industry groups support the crackdown to remove unqualified drivers and improve safety on highways.
- Some immigrant groups argue that certain drivers are being unfairly targeted in enforcement efforts.
