CALIFORNIA TO REVOKE 17,000 COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSES ISSUED TO IMMIGRANTS. (PHOTO).

 California to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants

California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants after state officials found that the licenses extended beyond the drivers’ authorized legal status in the U.S. The announcement comes amid scrutiny from federal authorities over states granting licenses to people without legal immigration status, a debate reignited in August after a Florida crash involving a truck driver not authorized to be in the country killed three people.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the revocations reflect the state’s acknowledgment that its licensing practices were improper, despite previous defenses of its standards. California launched a review of commercial licenses following federal concerns. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said all affected drivers held valid federal work authorizations and that the licenses are being revoked because state law requires them to expire no later than the driver’s legal status in the U.S. Newsom spokesperson Brandon Richards criticized Duffy, calling his claims misleading.

The issue has drawn heightened attention following fatal truck crashes in other states and a recent California crash involving a driver in the country illegally. Duffy has previously imposed stricter rules for immigrants seeking commercial licenses, limiting eligibility to holders of H-2a, H-2b, or E-2 visas and requiring verification of immigration status through federal databases. Under those rules, only about 10,000 of the 200,000 noncitizen license holders nationwide would qualify, though the rules are not retroactive. California officials said the state followed U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidance when issuing the licenses.

Duffy has threatened to withhold additional federal funding from California unless the state invalidates all improperly issued licenses and ensures compliance with the new standards. Drivers affected by the revocation notices will have 60 days before their licenses expire.