California Governor Gavin Newsom has been compelled to cancel approximately 17,000 commercial driver's licenses previously issued to undocumented migrants following intense scrutiny from Donald Trump's administration and a tragic fatal collision.
Federal Pressure Mounts Over Licence Controversy
The dramatic policy reversal comes after sustained pressure from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who highlighted multiple incidents involving the controversial licenses. Among these was an October highway crash that claimed three lives, allegedly caused by an undocumented migrant holding a commercial driving permit.
Secretary Duffy declared: "After weeks of claiming they did nothing wrong, Gavin Newsom and California have been caught red-handed." The federal official emphasised that this development represents "just the tip of the iceberg" in his ongoing investigation into California's licensing practices.
Financial Consequences and Compliance Failures
The confrontation has escalated to include financial threats, with Duffy warning he would withdraw $160 million in federal funding from California unless the licence situation was resolved. The governor's office had been given a 30-day ultimatum in September to address the concerns.
Initially, Newsom's administration provided vague explanations for the licence revocations, citing unspecified state law violations. However, they later acknowledged that the permits should have expired when the holders' legal immigration status lapsed.
A Department of Transportation audit revealed significant compliance failures in California's system, finding that one in four non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses sampled had been issued improperly.
Tragic Incident Highlights Policy Flaws
The controversy gained urgency following a horrific October collision that killed three people, including a high school basketball coach and his wife. Police identified the driver as 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh, an undocumented immigrant from India who had been caught and released at the California border in 2022.
Singh faces charges including driving under drug influence and vehicular manslaughter. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer request on the suspect, who remains in custody at West Valley Detention Center.
Further scrutiny emerged when homeowners shared security footage showing a truck driver with a commercial license causing significant property damage while attempting a desperate U-turn on a residential street.
Political Fallout and Future Implications
The licence revocation affects approximately 17,000 individuals who have now been informed their commercial driving privileges will terminate within 60 days. The confrontation represents the latest in ongoing tensions between the liberal California governor and the Trump administration.
Newsom's spokesperson, Brandon Richards, accused Duffy of "spreading easily disproven falsehoods in a sad and desperate attempt to please his dear leader," referencing Duffy's previous career on MTV's "Road Rules" reality show before entering politics.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted a disturbing pattern of "illegal aliens being issued commercial vehicle licenses" and confirmed the Department of Transportation would intensify scrutiny of such cases nationwide.
The resolution of the $160 million funding threat remains uncertain despite California's compliance with the licence revocation order. Both the Department of Transportation and the governor's office have been approached for additional comment regarding the ongoing situation.
