The transportation sector will immediately tighten its non-citizen requirements to obtain non-citizen driver’s licenses after three fatal crashes this year.
A national audit of these licenses began after a Fatal U-turn crash in Florida It killed two people caused by truck drivers who officials said they were in the country illegally. But Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier this year there was a fatal crash caused by truck drivers who should have no licenses in Texas and Alabama as well.
Duffy also threatened to cancel $160 million in federal funds in California. This is because investigators determined that one in four non-citizen driver’s licenses issued since June should not have been issued under current rules. The state has 30 days to audit and plan to follow the program. Otherwise, you will lose your funds.
Duffy said current rules are not strict enough and many states have not followed them. The audit found improperly issued licenses in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Washington.
“We have a government system designed to keep American families on the roads, but that system is compromised,” Duffy said.
Previously, Duffy I was threatened Federal funds are withdrawn from California, Washington and New Mexico due to failed execution English proficiency requirements For truck drivers that took effect this summer. The Transportation Division continues to review responses from those states.
All states must suspend issuing commercial driver licenses to non-citizens until they are able to comply with the new rules.
Officials said the new rules mean that of the 200,000 non-citizens who currently hold any of these commercial licenses, approximately 190,000 should never receive them, but the rules are not retroactive so drivers will not lose their licenses. Only drivers with either an H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visa are eligible to obtain a commercial driver’s license. Having an employment approval document is not enough.
The head of the American Truck Transport Association’s trade group praised the transportation department’s efforts to ensure that everyone who receives a commercial driver’s license is eligible and authorized to obtain it. The group previously requested an audit of these licenses in April.
“The rules only work when they are consistently enforced. It is essential that all state driver licensing agencies comply with federal regulations,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear.
The Florida conflict sparked anger from President Donald Trump and Duffy. Political battle Between the governors of Florida and California. Also, they placed Sikhs. Crossfire truck driver Because the truck drivers of crashes in Florida are part of that faith.
August 12th, Harjinder Singh The Florida Highway Patrol, about 50 miles (80 km) north of West Palm Beach, made an illegal turn from the northbound lane of the Florida turnpike. The minivan, which had been moving behind him, was unable to avoid the truck trailer and blocked the northbound lane.
Two passengers in the minivan died at the scene and the driver died at the hospital. Singh and the truck passengers were not injured.
Thinn lived in California, before he was originally issued a commercial driver’s license in Washington, and before California issued him a license. The fallout from the crash has fueled an oral conflict between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Trump administration.
Singh is charged with three state counts of vehicle murder and immigration violations. The federal government has called for him to be transferred to US immigration and customs enforcement custody after his criminal case is completed.
Singh faces an arrest hearing Monday on charges of vehicle murder and manslaughter, according to court records in St. Lucy County, Florida.
Singh holds private lawyer Natalie Knight Tai to represent him, records show.
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Associated Press Writer Jeff Martin contributed to this report.
