During a White House cabinet meeting Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that states and municipalities issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants risk losing access to federal funding for infrastructure projects under the Trump administration’s renewed enforcement of immigration law.
Duffy stated that jurisdictions ignoring federal law—including those pushing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mandates or functioning as sanctuary cities—would be disqualified from receiving federal transportation funds. “If you don’t follow the law, if you’re giving licenses to illegals, if you’re having DEI policies, we’re not going to fund your projects,” Duffy said.
The policy, tied to executive orders signed by President Donald Trump, would require states and cities to certify compliance with federal law before receiving money for roads, bridges, or rail projects.
Currently, 19 states and Washington, D.C., allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, according to Fox News. These include liberal strongholds like California, New York, New Jersey, and Washington. Such policies were implemented under Democrat leadership, often under the claim of promoting road safety and fairness.
In 2019, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy defended his state’s decision, arguing that licensing illegal immigrants would reduce uninsured drivers and make roads safer. Critics argue these policies incentivize illegal immigration and undermine federal law, especially as the REAL ID deadline approaches on May 7.
REAL ID, a post-9/11 national security measure, requires a federally-compliant form of identification for boarding commercial flights and accessing federal facilities. Only U.S. citizens and legal residents qualify, further highlighting the divide between federal standards and state-level immigration loopholes.
The Trump administration’s move reflects its broader strategy to reassert federal immigration authority and penalize state policies that conflict with national law. Secretary Duffy’s announcement signals a shift toward stricter enforcement and renewed scrutiny of state-level noncompliance.
The funding threat is expected to spark legal and political battles between the federal government and Democrat-led states. Governors in states like California and New York have already vowed to defend their licensing policies, claiming state sovereignty over such matters. However, the Trump administration argues that federal funding comes with the obligation to uphold federal laws, particularly regarding immigration and national security. As tensions rise, courts may ultimately decide whether states can continue to flout immigration policy without financial consequences.
