Federation for American Immigration Reform files lawsuit against New York DMV over release of records regarding non-domiciled CDLs issued in state

A DC immigration group has filed a lawsuit against the New York DMV over the release of records regarding the state’s issuing of non domiciled CDLs. 

The lawsuit was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday, February 2nd by lawyers for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)  based out of Washington DC. The suit alleges that the New York DMV failed to comply with the New York Freedom of Information Law. The suit asks for a judge to require the release of public records or documents “related to the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens and other noncitizens.”

A representative of FAIR says that the lawsuit is a critical step in holding bureaucrats accountable and exposing practices that enable illegal aliens to operate heavy commercial vehicles on our roads,” reported The Center Square.

“The American people deserve transparency on how state agencies are issuing CDLs to individuals who may not meet federal eligibility standards, especially when public safety is at stake,” said FAIR’s executive director and general counsel Dale Wilcox. “Our investigation reveals a troubling pattern of lax enforcement that not only violates federal law but also endangers lives and contributes to rising insurance costs for law-abiding citizens.”

FAIR says it filed freedom of information requests to New York and 14 other states last year seeking information about nondomiciled  CDLs, but the New York DMV has either delayed its response, or provided an “inadequate” response to the request. 

“Here is the truth: Commercial Drivers Licenses are regulated by the federal government, and New York State DMV has, and will continue to, comply with federal rules,” the New York DMV said in a statement. “Every CDL we issue is subject to verification of an applicant’s lawful status through federally-issued documents reviewed in accordance with federal regulations.”