New York: California has said it will delay the process of cancelling around 17,000 commercial driving licences until March, a week after a group of immigrant truck drivers filed a lawsuit against the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The move will give authorities more time to ensure that truck and bus drivers who are legally eligible are able to retain their licences.
According to a media report, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that California could lose up to $160 million in federal funding if it fails to meet a January 5 deadline for cancelling the licences. He said $40 million in funds have already been withheld, alleging that the state is not properly enforcing English language proficiency requirements for truck drivers.
California had sent out notices declaring the licences invalid following pressure from Duffy, who argued that the action was needed to ensure commercial licences are not issued to immigrants living in the US illegally.
Posting on social media platform X, Duffy said California does not have any “extension” to continue violating federal law.
