Florida has filed a lawsuit directly with the U.S. Supreme Court against California (and also naming Washington) over the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to undocumented immigrants. The suit argues this practice violates federal regulations requiring CDL holders to demonstrate English proficiency and comprehension of road signs, and claims such licenses jeopardize public safety. Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, asserts that California’s sanctuary and licensing policies make it impossible to verify immigration status, effectively enabling non‑citizens to obtain CDLs in violation of federal standards.
The legal push follows a tragic August crash on Florida’s Turnpike involving a commercial truck driver, Harjinder Singh, who held a California CDL. Authorities contend Singh was unable to read road signs and performed an illegal U‑turn, resulting in a collision that killed three people. Florida contends this incident underscores the dangers of California’s licensing standards and supports its claim that such licenses create a substantive risk on national highways. In response, the U.S. Department of Transportation is withholding $40 million in federal highway funding from California for failing to enforce English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers.
In its complaint, Florida seeks an injunction to bar California from issuing CDLs to undocumented individuals and asks that Washington’s similar practices also be reviewed. The petition frames California’s policy as a public nuisance and a breach of federal supremacy over licensing and safety rules. California has defended its licensing and inspection practices, asserting compliance with applicable federal and state rules. Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation has threatened to pull additional funds (as much as $160 million) should the state continue noncompliance.
The case raises important legal questions about how far states can set licensing rules that intersect with immigration and federal safety mandates. Florida’s position is that federal law must override state-level decisions in these critical safety zones. The outcome could set precedent for whether states may issue CDLs irrespective of immigration status, how strongly English proficiency can be enforced at state levels, and what fiscal pressures (via federal funding) are constitutional in enforcing compliance.
Tonight, we filed a lawsuit against Gavin Newsom and California in the US Supreme Court because their so-called “sanctuary” policies for illegal aliens are harming states like Florida.
California must pay for the carnage of their open border policies and unlawful CDL programs. pic.twitter.com/iEauMlWXkY
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) October 16, 2025
