Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against California and Washington State, accusing them of violating federal law by issuing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to undocumented immigrants — a move Florida claims directly contributed to a deadly highway crash earlier this year.
The suit, filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, marks a rare and politically charged attempt by one state to sue others over licensing policy. Florida officials argue that by allowing non-citizens to legally operate heavy trucks, California and Washington have endangered public safety and undermined federal transportation standards.
The controversy stems from a fatal August crash on Florida’s Turnpike that killed three people. The truck involved was driven by Harjinder Singh, an Indian national allegedly in the United States illegally. Investigators later discovered that Singh held valid CDLs issued by both California and Washington — despite not meeting federal work or language requirements for commercial drivers.
“This case is about accountability and common sense,” Attorney General Uthmeier said during a press briefing. “When states hand out commercial licenses to people who aren’t legally in this country, it’s not compassion — it’s reckless endangerment.”
Florida’s filing asks the Supreme Court to declare the practice unconstitutional and issue a nationwide injunction preventing states from granting CDLs to individuals who cannot verify legal work authorization. The lawsuit also seeks financial damages, claiming the policies in California and Washington led directly to loss of life on Florida roads.
Governor Ron DeSantis backed the lawsuit, calling it “a fight to protect every driver and family on our highways.” He added, “California’s radical policies don’t just stay in California. They spill over and kill innocent people in other states.”
California and Washington officials have defended their programs, arguing that state laws allow undocumented residents to obtain certain types of licenses — including CDLs — to promote public safety by ensuring all drivers are properly trained and insured.
“Denying licenses doesn’t stop people from driving,” a spokesperson for the California Department of Motor Vehicles said in response. “It just means more untrained drivers on the road. Our policy ensures every trucker meets the same safety and testing standards.”
However, Florida’s legal team contends that the federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act preempts state discretion. The law requires that only U.S. citizens or authorized residents can obtain federally compliant CDLs and that all applicants must demonstrate English proficiency to ensure safe communication with law enforcement and emergency services.
Federal transportation audits have reportedly flagged California for compliance issues in recent months. The U.S. Department of Transportation warned the state earlier this year that it could lose up to $40 million in federal funding if it continued issuing commercial licenses without verifying immigration status.
“This isn’t just a Florida problem,” Uthmeier said. “It’s a national problem. States cannot ignore federal law because of politics.”
Legal experts say the case could test the limits of state sovereignty and federal supremacy. “If the Supreme Court takes it, this will set an important precedent about how far states can go in creating their own licensing standards,” said constitutional scholar Dr. Lisa Thornton of Georgetown Law. “Florida’s argument hinges on whether these state policies actively endanger citizens beyond their borders.”
Critics, however, see the lawsuit as part of DeSantis’s broader political battle over immigration. Democratic lawmakers in California have accused Florida of “grandstanding” and exploiting tragedy for political gain.
“Governor DeSantis should focus on fixing Florida’s economy, not suing other states to score headlines,” said California State Senator Maria Gutierrez.
Still, the Turnpike tragedy has struck a chord nationwide. Families of the victims have expressed support for Florida’s legal action, saying it could prevent future accidents involving unqualified drivers.
“I lost my sister and her two kids because someone who shouldn’t have been behind the wheel was allowed to drive a massive truck across state lines,” said Jessica Lawson, whose family was killed in the crash. “If this lawsuit can stop that from happening again, it’s worth it.”
The Supreme Court has yet to announce whether it will hear the case. If accepted, it could trigger a sweeping legal battle over immigration enforcement, transportation safety, and the constitutional boundaries between state and federal authority.
For now, Florida’s lawsuit underscores a growing clash between red and blue states — one that’s not only about immigration, but about who bears responsibility when policy decisions cross state lines and end in tragedy.
