California defies federal authority by delaying the revocation of 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses held by potentially unauthorized immigrants, risking $160 million in federal funding while putting American lives at risk on our highways.
Story Snapshot
- California postpones revoking 17,000 commercial licenses until March 2026 despite federal Jan. 5 deadline
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatens to withhold $160 million after already cutting $40 million in funding
- Federal crackdown follows deadly crashes involving unauthorized immigrant drivers, including three deaths in Florida
- Audit reveals systemic failures in verifying immigration status and English proficiency requirements
Federal Crackdown Exposes California’s Immigration Enforcement Failures
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has taken decisive action against California’s reckless disregard for immigration law enforcement in commercial driver licensing. The state faces losing $160 million in federal funding after already having $40 million withheld for failing to enforce English proficiency requirements for truckers. Federal audits uncovered widespread problems including licenses remaining valid long after immigrants’ legal authorization expired and the state’s inability to prove it properly checked drivers’ immigration status before issuing permits.
California delays cancellation of 17K commercial drivers licenses following immigrants’ lawsuit https://t.co/8Ao2Yy5ksu pic.twitter.com/riC5rtmmVq
— New York Post (@nypost) December 31, 2025
This federal intervention represents exactly the kind of accountability that Trump supporters have been demanding from Washington. Under the previous administration, states like California operated sanctuary policies with impunity, putting political correctness above public safety. Now, the Transportation Department is finally holding these rogue states accountable for their failures to protect American citizens on our roads.
Deadly Consequences of Open-Border Policies
The federal crackdown intensified after a truck driver unauthorized to be in the United States made an illegal U-turn causing a fatal crash in Florida that killed three people in August 2025. This tragedy exemplifies the deadly consequences of California’s lax immigration enforcement policies. Another fatal crash occurred in California in October, further highlighting the urgent need for proper vetting and licensing procedures that prioritize American safety over progressive ideology.
Duffy’s response on social platform X was unequivocal: “California does NOT have an ‘extension’ to keep breaking the law and putting Americans at risk on the roads.” This direct communication style mirrors the Trump administration’s approach of calling out state-level obstruction rather than allowing bureaucratic delays to continue endangering lives. The Transportation Department’s prioritization of this issue demonstrates a commitment to enforcement that was sorely lacking under previous federal leadership.
State Resistance and Legal Manipulation
California’s delay announcement came suspiciously just one week after immigrant advocacy groups filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the license revocations. The Sikh Coalition and Asian Law Caucus claimed immigrant truck drivers were being “unfairly targeted,” despite clear evidence of systematic violations of federal immigration and safety requirements. This coordinated resistance between activist organizations and state government represents the kind of deep-state obstruction that conservative Americans have grown tired of seeing.
The state’s DMV Director Steve Gordon attempted to frame the issue in economic terms, stating that commercial drivers are essential to supply chains and community connections. However, this argument deliberately ignores the fundamental question of whether these drivers are legally authorized to work in the United States. California’s position essentially argues that economic convenience should override immigration law enforcement and public safety requirements.
Broader Pattern of Federal Accountability
California is not alone in facing federal pressure over commercial driver licensing failures. Duffy previously threatened to withhold funding from Pennsylvania and Minnesota after audits revealed similar problems with licenses remaining valid after work permits expired. This multi-state enforcement effort demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to consistent application of federal law rather than allowing blue states to operate under different standards.
Trucking trade groups have praised these enforcement efforts, recognizing that getting unqualified drivers who lack proper authorization or English proficiency off the roads serves everyone’s interests. The industry understands that maintaining professional standards protects both drivers and the general public, while also ensuring that legal drivers aren’t undercut by those operating outside the law. This represents the kind of common-sense approach that puts American workers and safety first.
