NY Immigrant Driver Licenses Under Scrutiny as USDOT Considers Fund Withholding

Sun Dec 14 2025 01:22:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The U.S. Transportation Secretary raises concerns over New York’s issuance of immigrant driver licenses, threatening to withhold highway funds unless compliance is ensured.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has targeted New York's issuance of non-domiciled licenses to immigrants, claiming over half of those reviewed were issued improperly. Duffy threatened to withhold $73 million in highway funds if the state fails to rectify the situation. Despite New York officials asserting compliance with federal regulations, investigations revealed many licenses remain valid beyond the expiration of immigrant work permits. The state's DMV pushed back against Duffy's claims, emphasizing their adherence to federal rules.

New York’s licensing system for immigrant drivers is facing scrutiny from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who disclosed that the state has issued numerous licenses that could remain valid even after the corresponding work permits have expired. Duffy threatened to withhold $73 million in federal highway funds unless New York rectifies its licensing practices.

During a recent statement, Duffy criticized the New York state officials, asserting that more than half of the 200 immigrant licenses reviewed were found to be issued improperly, with many being valid for eight years regardless of when an immigrant’s work permit ends. This announcement follows a tragic incident in Florida where a truck driver lacking legal residency caused a fatal accident.

Tension escalated as New York officials contended that they are adhering to federal guidelines, asserting their commitment to verify the immigration status of all driver applicants. Despite these claims, federal audits indicated that investigations revealed significant lapses, as the state was unable to prove it had verified the immigration status of many active licenses.

“When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake — it is a dereliction of duty,” stated Duffy, urging the state Governor Kathy Hochul to take immediate action.

New York has 30 days to respond to these escalating concerns. DMV spokesperson Walter McClure defended the state’s practices, claiming the accusations are unfounded and a distraction from broader administrative failures. McClure emphasized that the commercial driver licenses in question are regulated federally and that New York is committed to following those regulations.

New York's handling of immigrant driver licensing is part of a patterned scrutiny leading to similar notices being issued to other states like California and Pennsylvania, where compliance issues were also flagged. The ongoing debate continues to highlight the complex intersection of immigration policy and transportation safety.