Trump DOT hammers Gov. Shapiro, threatens to pull millions after state hands CDL to 'suspected terrorist' illegal alien trucker
The Department of Transportation issued a warning on Thursday to Pennsylvania that it is at risk of losing tens of millions of dollars in federal funding, according to a department press release obtained by Blaze News.
The DOT sent a letter to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and state DOT Secretary Michael Carroll stating that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration uncovered "evidence of procedural and programming errors" in the state's issuance of non-domiciled commercial learner's permits and driver's licenses.
'Joe Biden allowed tens of millions of illegals to pour into our country through open borders, including a suspected terrorist who Pennsylvania then allowed to get behind the wheel of a semitruck.'
Pennsylvania issued CDLs with expiration dates beyond the foreign nationals' lawful presence in the country, according to the DOT. Further, the state was accused of issuing licenses without requiring drivers to provide proof of lawful presence in the U.S. The department also stated that other non-domiciled CDLs were issued to lawful permanent residents who were eligible for regular CDLs.
Of 150 records reviewed by the FMCSA, two instances were found in which PennDOT issued non-domiciled CDLs with expiration dates that extended beyond the drivers' lawful presence. The FMCSA uncovered four cases in which the department failed to provide evidence that it required drivers to present lawful residence documents. Lastly, the FMCSA identified two instances in which the department issued a non-domiciled CDL to individuals who were eligible for a regular CDL.
The DOT noted that 12,400 drivers hold an unexpired non-domiciled CLP or CDL issued by Pennsylvania.
The federal department demanded that Pennsylvania take "immediate corrective action" or risk the decertification of its CDL program and losing certain federal-aid highway funds. The corrective action includes an immediate pause on the issuance of all non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs, as well as an internal audit to identify procedural errors. Pennsylvania is also required to identify and void all unexpired non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs that were improperly issued.
RELATED: ICE takes down alleged 'wanted terrorist' illegal alien trucker
Failure to comply may lead to the DOT withholding $75,500,000 in funding for fiscal year 2027.
Thursday's warning is part of the DOT's greater effort to crack down on road safety and national security concerns related to the flood of illegal aliens that joined the trucking industry amid the Biden administration's open-border crisis. The DOT has already withheld funds from California over similar violations.
"Under President Trump, this department is taking every measure to ensure dangerous foreign drivers aren't illegally operating 40-ton vehicles on American roads," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated. "Joe Biden allowed tens of millions of illegals to pour into our country through open borders, including a suspected terrorist who Pennsylvania then allowed to get behind the wheel of a semitruck. I will continue to fight to get these dangerous drivers off our roads to protect American families and support our national security."
Duffy's statement presumably referred to Akhror Bozorov, a 31-year-old truck driver from Uzbekistan who was recently arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agency stated that Bozorov was accused of belonging to a terrorist organization. He was issued a non-domiciled CDL with REAL ID by Pennsylvania.
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Incredibly, the gold star on his license shows that he had enough documentation for PennDOT to issue a Real ID.
Akhror Bozorov. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images
Photo by Mark Makela/Corbis via Getty Images
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