Tennessee – U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is renewing her call for stricter immigration enforcement, arguing that states refusing to cooperate with federal authorities are endangering public safety as the Trump administration continues a nationwide crackdown on commercial driver’s licenses held by immigrants who are not authorized to remain in the United States.
In a social media post, Tennessee Sen. Blackburn said sanctuary states that decline to cooperate with federal law enforcement “are risking American lives.” She also promoted her proposed Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act, saying the legislation would target states that issue driver’s licenses to immigrants without legal status or refuse to share information about criminal noncitizens with federal authorities.
“My Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act would crack down on states that issue licenses to illegals or refuse to share information on criminal aliens,” Blackburn wrote.
Blackburn’s comments came after Border Czar Tom Homan said the Trump administration has significantly expanded enforcement efforts targeting commercial driver’s licenses, or CDLs, issued to immigrants who are no longer legally authorized to remain in the country. During an interview with Fox News, Homan said federal agents have been conducting inspections at semi-truck weigh stations across the country as part of the operation, FOX One reported.
According to Homan, more than 28,000 commercial driver’s licenses have already been revoked, with additional revocations expected as federal officials continue reviewing state records. He also claimed that some sanctuary states have resisted sharing information with federal authorities, making the effort more difficult.
The renewed attention on commercial driver’s licenses follows several recent actions by the Trump administration aimed at tightening eligibility requirements for truck drivers. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced changes designed to prevent certain noncitizens from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses by eliminating what officials described as a licensing loophole. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the changes were intended to improve highway safety by ensuring only qualified drivers receive CDLs.
The administration has also increased audits of state licensing programs, arguing that some states failed to adequately verify immigration status or comply with federal commercial licensing requirements. Federal officials have warned that states could face funding consequences if deficiencies are not corrected.
Blackburn’s legislation is not new. She first introduced the Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act in 2020 and reintroduced the proposal in later sessions of Congress. The measure would make states ineligible for certain federal law enforcement grants if they issue driver’s licenses without proof of lawful presence or prohibit state and local officials from sharing immigration enforcement information with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The legislation has not become law.
Supporters of the proposal argue that restricting driver’s licenses and increasing cooperation with federal immigration authorities would improve public safety and strengthen enforcement of immigration laws. Blackburn has repeatedly said states should not receive federal criminal justice funding if they adopt policies that she believes undermine federal immigration enforcement.
Critics, however, have argued that allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain standard, non-commercial driver’s licenses can improve road safety by encouraging driver testing, licensing, and insurance coverage. Several states continue to issue standard driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status, although commercial driver’s licenses are generally subject to stricter federal regulations. Legal challenges have also emerged over recent federal efforts to further restrict CDL eligibility for certain immigrant groups.
The debate over immigration enforcement, sanctuary state policies, and driver’s license eligibility is expected to remain a major issue in Congress as lawmakers continue considering legislation related to border security, transportation safety, and cooperation between state governments and federal immigration authorities.