Driver’s licenses in the United States are one of those common procedures in the country, whether it’s issuing new licenses or renewing expired ones. The fact is, according to official data, a review by the Department of Transportation (DOT) found that numerous permits were granted or renewed without verifying the validity of visas or work authorizations, which exposes the state to financial penalties. Eight states, including California and New York, face federal sanctions after the DOT detected these irregularities.
The Motor Carrier Safety Administration will investigate whether illegal license expirations have occurred
It has come to light that some cities are issuing driver’s licenses without considering the applicant’s residency status. For this reason, the Motor Carrier Safety Administration will investigate whether illegal license expirations have occurred, which pose a risk to road safety, following several fatal accidents. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has threatened to withhold millions of dollars in federal funds from the states of California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and now New York, after discovering that several immigrant licenses remained valid long after their legal status in the country had expired.
This has raised concerns about similar cases that occurred during the government shutdown in Texas, p.e.
The review, led by Sean Duffy, found that in a sample of more than 200 licenses reviewed in New York, 53% did not meet federal standards, as business permits were being granted or renewed without verifying the holder’s updated immigration status. This has raised concerns about similar cases that occurred during the government shutdown in Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington.
The suspicion and subsequent concern arose after some cases in which a driver without legal status was involved in a car accident
The fact is that this finding impacts both transportation workers and public administration policies within and outside the state, according to reports gathered by the Associated Press. The suspicion and subsequent concern arose in August when a truck driver, without authorization to reside in the United States, made an illegal U-turn and caused an accident in Florida, killing three people. This case is not isolated, but it was one of the most publicized regarding a driver without legal residency being “legally” driving on U.S. roads.
Investigation indicates that the audit of the system for issuing commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants is part of a federal operation
As we said, that accident was not an isolated incident. Another accident occurred in October in California, where a driver who was not legally authorized to be in the country caused the deaths of three people. Background information on the investigation indicates that the audit of the system for issuing commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants is part of a federal operation that has already involved California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington.
“When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued without complying with regulations, public safety and the integrity of the system are compromised”
All of this, coupled with evidence that may reveal flaws in the system, has led to this situation. In recent years, serious traffic accidents involving unlicensed drivers prompted federal intervention, according to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Reuters news coverage. In response, in September, Duffy proposed tightening restrictions on issuing these licenses to non-citizen immigrants to drive trucks or buses, although a court suspended these provisions.
The data is clear. The Department of Transportation has revealed, according to its investigations, that more than 53% of commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants in New York were granted for periods longer than the validity of their visas or work permits. “When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued without complying with regulations, public safety and the integrity of the system are compromised,” stated Sean Duffy. As a result, citizens will soon see stricter procedures for obtaining or renewing driver’s licenses.