California Loses Funds Over License Delay
California is set to lose $160 million in federal funds after delaying the cancellation of 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants. Federal transportation officials announced the funding cut, citing concerns over public safety.
Earlier, the state had already lost $40 million in federal funds for not properly enforcing English language rules for truckers.
The trouble began when a federal review found problems with the licenses, including some that stayed valid even after the driver’s visa had expired. Some licenses were even given to citizens of Mexico and Canada who didn’t meet the requirements.
After initially planning to revoke the licenses, California delayed the action until March, after being sued by groups worried that some people were being unfairly targeted. Federal officials expected the licenses to be revoked sooner.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has been pushing California and other states to make sure that only those who are legally allowed to be in the country get these licenses.
Duffy said that California Governor Gavin Newsom is putting “the needs of illegal immigrants over the safety of the American people.” He stated, “Our demands were simple: follow the rules, revoke the unlawfully-issued licenses to dangerous foreign drivers, and fix the system so this never happens again.”
California officials disagree with the funding cut, saying they follow all rules. They claim the lost funds will hurt the state’s ability to keep roads safe.
Federal officials say they never agreed to the delay and expected the licenses to be revoked sooner.
The issue gained attention after a fatal crash in Florida involving a truck driver who was not legally in the U.S. The federal government has been increasing its efforts to make sure that unqualified drivers are not on the road.
Trucking industry groups have supported these efforts, saying that weak rules have allowed unqualified drivers to endanger professional truckers and the public.
Some groups claim that immigrant truck drivers, particularly Sikhs, are being unfairly targeted, after deadly incidents in the recent past.
Federal officials insist on responsible enforcement of regulations, prioritizing safety on the roads for all Americans.
