Washington, D.C. — The Supreme Court declined Tuesday to hear Florida’s lawsuit challenging commercial driver’s licenses issued by California and Washington to certain noncitizen truck drivers, leaving both states’ licensing policies in place.
Florida had asked the court to block the two states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to individuals lacking legal immigration status or English proficiency. The dispute intensified after a fatal truck crash in Florida last year involving Harjinder Singh, an Indian national who reportedly held valid commercial licenses from both California and Washington.
Florida argued the states exceeded their authority by issuing licenses to drivers who, according to the lawsuit, should not qualify under federal transportation and immigration standards. State officials also raised concerns about public safety and interstate trucking regulations.
The Supreme Court rejected the case without explanation, though Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented, arguing the court should have considered the dispute between states.
The decision leaves California and Washington free to continue their current licensing practices for commercial drivers. The case highlighted broader political and legal divisions between Republican-led states seeking stricter immigration enforcement and Democratic-led states pursuing more permissive policies involving undocumented immigrants and workforce access.
Sources:
- CBS News – MBFC Rating
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