US Department of Transportation Threatens to Pull Funding from New York over Illegal CDLs
TL/DR –
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has threatened to withdraw millions of dollars in funding from New York, accusing it of unlawfully granting commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to individuals lacking legal status. According to DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, New York is the worst offender, issuing over 53% of non-domiciled CDLs illegally with no proof of verifying these drivers’ immigration status. The state has been given 30 days to comply with federal law or face a withholding of $73 million in highway funds.
US Department of Transportation Warns New York of Potential Funding Cuts
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has warned that New York could lose millions in funding over the issue of granting commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants without legal status. This places New York under the same scrutiny as other states like California, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
US Transportation Secretary Discusses Audit Results
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted New York as the primary offender in an audit of states issuing unlawful commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). Duffy reported that 53% of non-domiciled CDLs in New York were distributed illegally, calling for an immediate revocation of these licenses.
New York’s Handling of Licenses Questioned
Duffy focused on the state’s inability to provide evidence of verifying drivers’ immigration status for roughly 32,000 active non-domiciled commercial licenses. Moreover, licenses were sometimes granted even after applicants’ work authorizations had expired. By contrast, under New York practices, an eight-year commercial driver’s license is granted regardless of the duration of the work authorization.
Threat to Withhold Highway Funds
According to Duffy, unless New York complies with federal law within 30 days, $73 million of highway funds will be withheld. California recently announced the revocation of 17,000 CDLs in response to similar criticism.
Impetus for License Scrutiny
The closer inspection of licensing practices follows a fatal accident in Florida involving an unauthorized truck driver. The driver, who lacked legal US status, caused a crash that claimed three lives.
New York’s DMV Responds
Walter McClure, a spokesperson for New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles, dismissed the accusations, stating, “Secretary Duffy is lying about New York State again in a desperate attempt to distract from the failing administration he represents” and that “every CDL we issue is subject to verification of an applicant’s lawful status through federally-issued documents reviewed in accordance with federal regulations.”
Story developed with assistance from The Associated Press.
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