Feds scrutinize licenses for immigrant truck drivers

The federal government's crackdown on commercial driver's licenses for immigrants has reported problems in California and seven other states so far in the wake of several deadly crashes.

- By JosH FuNK

FEDERAL action against immigrant truck drivers began after a crash caused by a driver in the U.S. illegally. Above, trucks in Bakersfield.

(MYUNG J. CHUN Los Angeles Times)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has threatened to withhold millions in federal money from California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New York after he said investigations found problems such as licenses that remained valid long after an immigrant’s legal status expired. The department quietly also sent letters detailing similar concerns to Texas, South Dakota, Colorado and Washington during the government shutdown after briefly mentioning those states in September.

Federal concerns about immigrant truck drivers gained attention in August after a tractor-trailer driver who was not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people. The driver, a Stockton resident, was licensed in California and previously in Washington state.

A fiery crash in October on the 10 Freeway in Ontario that also killed three people involved a truck driver in the country illegally, adding to the federal government’s worries.

Duffy proposed new restrictions in September that would severely limit which noncitizens could get a license to drive a semitruck or a bus, but a court has put the new rules on hold.

In addition, the Trump administration has been seeking to enforce its English-language requirements for truckers imposed this summer. As of October, about 9,500 truck drivers have been pulled off the road nationwide for failing to demonstrate English proficiency during traffic stops or inspections.

Here's a summary of what has happened so far:

The U.S. Transportation Department focused first on California because the driver in the Florida crash obtained a license there. He also went to California after the crash and was extradited to face charges.