The new rule was not in effect at the time of the 17,000 revoked licenses.
The state of California has decided to revoke the commercial driver’s licenses of about 17,000 immigrants after the Trump administration recently expressed concerns that immigrants were illegally obtaining licenses to drive semi-trucks and buses.
However, Governor Gavin Newsom said that the Trump administration’s statement was not the only reason behind the decision.
According to DMV records, many of the drivers had expired legal status in the United States. Therefore, their licenses were revoked, the AP reported, citing the California State Transportation Agency.
The validity of these licenses was questioned after fatal truck accidents in Texas and Alabama earlier this year, which led to a nationwide commercial driver’s license audit.
Concerns about this issue were further heightened when an illegal immigrant truck driver killed three other people in a crash in California last month.
Sean Duffy said Wednesday that California’s move to revoke licenses makes it clear that the state has not properly followed the standards in the past.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has issued tough new rules for immigrants to get commercial driver’s licenses. He said California and five other states are illegally issuing them to noncitizens. But California is the first state where Duffy has suspended $40 million in federal funding after an audit was completed.
He said the reason was that the state’s English language requirements for truck drivers were not being properly enforced.
Duffy warned that another $160 million in funding would be cut off if the states did not cancel all illegal licenses and fix the errors.
Audits in other states have been delayed by the government shutdown, although they have all been ordered to tighten the rules.
Under new rules for commercial driver’s licenses announced by Duffy in September, it will become increasingly difficult for immigrants to get commercial driver’s licenses. Only those in three specific visa categories will be eligible for licenses.
Under the new rules, commercial licenses only apply to drivers holding H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visas.
The new rule was not in effect at the time the 17,000 canceled licenses were issued. But these drivers were given notice that their licenses would expire in 60 days.
