Transportation Department finds nearly 20% of Illinois' non-domiciled CDLs were issued illegally

The Transportation Department found that nearly 20% of Illinois' non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses were issued illegally.

The results of the DOT's audit found that out of 150 sampled non-domiciled CDLs, 29 of them were illegally issued, according to a letter sent on Tuesday to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and Director of Driver Services Kevin Duesterhaus.

Illinois told DOT that it had issued 10,088 non-domiciled CLPs or CDLs that remain unexpired.

The audit found that Illinois illegally issued non-domiciled CDLs to drivers whose licenses were valid long after their lawful presence in the U.S. expired and those whose lawful presence in the U.S. was not verified.

The DOT gave Illinois 30 days to come into compliance and revoke the illegally issued licenses, or else lose $128 million in federal highway funding.

“I need our state partners to understand that they work for the American people, not illegal immigrants who broke the law illegally entering our country and continue to break it by operating massive big rigs without the proper qualifications,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

“Biden and Buttigieg forced Americans to share their roads with unqualified and unvetted foreign drivers, but the Trump Administration is putting the needs of American families first where they belong.”