Trump Admin Dealt Legal Blow Over Immigrant Truckers
Trump administration suffers legal setback as court rejects its bid to withhold highway funds from New York over immigrant CDLs.
The Trump administration faced a legal setback when a federal appeals court ruled against its attempt to withhold funding from New York State over commercial driver's licenses issued to immigrants. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted New York's challenge to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) decision to withhold over $73 million in federal highway funding for fiscal 2027.
The funding, sourced from the National Highway Performance Program and Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, was intended for road and bridge maintenance. New York had been issuing nondomiciled commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) for five years at issuance and eight years upon renewal, even when a driver's immigration documents expired sooner.
The licenses are available to certain foreign nationals, including DACA recipients, asylees, and refugees. The administration's crackdown on immigrant truck drivers has involved tighter licensing and English-language requirements, as well as enforcement of immigration and transportation laws. New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the ruling was a win for New Yorkers relying on safe roads and for CDL drivers contributing to the state's economy.
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