California could cancel 17,000 cases commercial driver’s license (CDL) issued to immigrants who had a valid work permit at the time the document was obtained. A federal audit revealed a series of irregularities in the validity of these credentials, New political conflict between Gavin Newsom’s administration and President Donald Trump.
According to an official statement from the U.S. Department of Transportation, California Department of Transportation (DMV): If these permits are granted with a validity period that exceeds the holder’s legal residence period;which violates both state law and federal regulations.
Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy reported: This measure is based on the results of an audit conducted by the government. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA, English acronym).
The report found systemic flaws in California’s DMV process that allowed commercial licenses to be issued beyond the validity period allowed by drivers’ immigration status.
Owner of these licenses I was notified that my document will become invalid within 60 days.. FMCSA called on California to submit a full report on the revocation of irregularly issued credentials and to correct the administrative mechanisms that facilitated the issuance of credentials.
But according to Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Gov. Gavin Newsom, they are all Qualified while holding a valid federal work permita situation that initially supported the issuance of CDL permits.
“These drivers are not illegal immigrants. All had legal status and were granted work permits by the federal government.“Richards said in X magazine. “At the time these licenses were issued, the new federal requirements were not in effect,” he said.
The detected fraud does not lie in the lack of a work permit; Temporary inconsistency between license validity period and legal perpetual terms.
According to information in the DMV database, California law states that a driver’s license cannot remain valid after the holder’s legal immigration status ends.
The announcement sparked a new conflict between the state and federal governments. Sean Duffy publicly accuses Gov. Gavin Newsom of allowing thousands of “illegal” licenses to be issued; Threatens to withhold up to $160 million in federal funding for road safety programs If the state does not cancel the document in question.
“The state was caught after weeks of denying wrongdoing.. Now we have exposed their lies,” the Secretary of Transportation declared.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. My team will keep the pressure on California “This is to show that we have removed all illegal immigrants from school buses and busses,” Duffy added.
Accordingly, Governor Newsom’s office denies the state did anything illegal.. Richards called Duffy’s comments “false and politically motivated” and explained: Repeal is based on technical adjustments to state lawThis provides that the expiration date of the credential must match the expiration date of the immigration status reported to the DMV.
“Once again, Sean ‘Road Rules’ Duffy, in a sad and desperate attempt to please his beloved leader, did not share the truth and spread easily refuted falsehoods,” he commented on X. The federal government had issued work permits to those drivers.” he declared.
California law requires that a CDL permit for non-citizens has an expiration date that is the same as or earlier than a U.S. legal residence or employment certificate.
but, FMCSA audit finds thousands of licenses issued with validity periods exceeding this limit.
The 17,000 affected drivers had valid work permits when they obtained their licenses; Their documents were deemed invalid because they did not comply with the temporary communications required by law.
This measure does not apply to ordinary driving licenses issued under the law. AB60 lawresidents without legal immigration status will be able to obtain a driver’s license. On the other hand, CDL Subject to stricter federal regulationsThis is because drivers will be able to operate large vehicles and transport cargo and passengers.
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