President Donald Trump said his administration will soon take action targeting commercial driver’s licenses held by people living in the United States illegally, citing the recent death of a Pennsylvania State Police trooper.Remarks in CarlisleTrump made the comments Tuesday during the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit in Carlisle, referencing the death of Trooper Michael Pahira, who was killed earlier this month along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County.”We’re here in Pennsylvania, where State Trooper Michael Pahira was killed just two weeks ago by an illegal alien operating a semi-truck on a commercial driver’s license, which he should never have had,” Trump said.Authorities allege the driver charged in Pahira’s death had been issued a commercial driver’s license in Massachusetts. According to investigators, the driver was living in the United States illegally as of at least last year.Proposed federal actionTrump said his administration plans to take what he described as “historic action” targeting commercial drivers who are in the country illegally.”My administration will soon take historic action to get illegal alien truck drivers off the roads who are just killing a lot of people,” Trump said. “They can’t read signs. Many of them are on drugs or alcohol, and they shouldn’t be driving these things.”The president did not provide specific details about the planned policy changes, aside from saying his administration is working to ensure more military veterans obtain commercial driver’s licenses and has also emphasized enforcing English-language proficiency requirements for CDL holders.Pennsylvania’s responseIn response to Trump’s remarks, a spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation verifies the legal status of CDL applicants through a federal database.The spokesperson added that Pennsylvania has suspended issuing commercial driver’s licenses to noncitizens and remains in active discussions with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the program and updated federal guidance.The investigation into the crash that killed Pahira remains ongoing.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
President Donald Trump said his administration will soon take action targeting commercial driver’s licenses held by people living in the United States illegally, citing the recent death of a Pennsylvania State Police trooper.
Remarks in Carlisle
Trump made the comments Tuesday during the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit in Carlisle, referencing the death of Trooper Michael Pahira, who was killed earlier this month along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County.
“We’re here in Pennsylvania, where State Trooper Michael Pahira was killed just two weeks ago by an illegal alien operating a semi-truck on a commercial driver’s license, which he should never have had,” Trump said.
Authorities allege the driver charged in Pahira’s death had been issued a commercial driver’s license in Massachusetts. According to investigators, the driver was living in the United States illegally as of at least last year.
Proposed federal action
Trump said his administration plans to take what he described as “historic action” targeting commercial drivers who are in the country illegally.
“My administration will soon take historic action to get illegal alien truck drivers off the roads who are just killing a lot of people,” Trump said. “They can’t read signs. Many of them are on drugs or alcohol, and they shouldn’t be driving these things.”
The president did not provide specific details about the planned policy changes, aside from saying his administration is working to ensure more military veterans obtain commercial driver’s licenses and has also emphasized enforcing English-language proficiency requirements for CDL holders.
Pennsylvania’s response
In response to Trump’s remarks, a spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation verifies the legal status of CDL applicants through a federal database.
The spokesperson added that Pennsylvania has suspended issuing commercial driver’s licenses to noncitizens and remains in active discussions with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the program and updated federal guidance.
The investigation into the crash that killed Pahira remains ongoing.