New York state has decided to halt the issuance of driver’s licenses to non-citizen immigrants. This decision comes in response to increased federal restrictions and the threat of funding cuts by the Trump administration.
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“In compliance with a direct order from the federal government, New York’s program for non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) is now on hold indefinitely, including any renewals,” stated Walter McClure, a spokesperson for the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, in a report initially covered by Newsday.
The federal authorities, referencing an audit conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, found that 107 out of 200 New York Commercial Driver’s Licenses were improperly issued. This led to a federal warning that $73 million in highway funding would be withheld unless the state ceased issuing licenses to non-citizens.
Last year, the federal government withdrew U.S. Department of Transportation guidance that had previously allowed non-citizens with federal work authorization to obtain CDLs.
