We Know How to Stop Illegal Immigrants from Getting CDLs. Here's How We Do It. Part 2 THE SOLUTION.

TWIC Has Worked Since 2007. The Clearinghouse Model Works. Biometric Verification Works. Under $100 Million Annually Would Save Hundreds of Lives, so Why Not?

“We’ve been screaming about this for years.” “Thank you for distinguishing us from illegal operators.” “We can’t verify what the government won’t enforce.” That’s what many fleet owners, legal drivers, and safety managers have been saying for years.

The solution to prevent illegal immigrants from getting CDLs already exists. The technology works. The legal authority is clear. The infrastructure is in place. Implementation would cost less than $100 million annually, a rounding error in federal transportation spending, and would save hundreds of lives every single year.

Requiring immigration verification would force carriers to compete for legal drivers with actual wages and benefits instead of exploiting vulnerable illegal immigrants. Non-citizens can obtain a TWIC card if they’re legal.

The ACLU doesn’t oppose immigration verification because of “discrimination concerns.” They oppose it because their ideological commitment to open borders trumps public safety, and acknowledging that illegal immigrants shouldn’t operate 80,000-pound vehicles would undermine their broader narrative that immigration status shouldn’t matter for anything.

Unidos US and the National Immigration Law Center don’t oppose enforcement because it’s “xenophobic.” They oppose it because their organizations exist to maximize illegal immigrant access to American jobs regardless of legal requirements or public safety consequences, and they’ve convinced politicians that any immigration enforcement is politically toxic.

None of these organizations will say this directly. They’ll hide behind euphemisms about “comprehensive immigration reform,” “pathway to citizenship,” and “keeping families together.” But strip away the rhetoric, and here’s what they’re really arguing: Illegal immigrants should be allowed to operate commercial vehicles on American highways even if it means more crashes, more deaths, and more families planning funerals.

That position is morally bankrupt. It’s legally indefensible. And it’s about to be exposed for exactly what it is.

Unlike Part 1, which documented the problem, Part 2 lays out the complete solution, step by step, with costs, timelines, legal authorities, and implementation plans. Every objection these associations raise will be systematically dismantled. Every claim about “impossibility” or “excessive cost” will be proven false with documentation.

When this investigation is done, every politician, every association executive, every activist group leader will have to answer one simple question:

If you oppose implementing the solution that would prevent the next I-10 crash, exactly how many more deaths are you willing to accept?

Three people burned to death on Tuesday because we lack the political will to implement solutions that already exist. Let’s talk about exactly what those solutions are, how they work, why they’re opposed, and what it will take to force implementation.

TWIC as A CDL Prerequisite

Here’s what makes this entire tragedy even more infuriating: We already have the technology and infrastructure to prevent unauthorized individuals from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses.

It’s called TWIC, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential.

What Is TWIC?

TWIC is a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program implemented after 9/11 to ensure that individuals accessing secure areas of ports, vessels, and critical transportation infrastructure have undergone comprehensive background checks and are legally authorized to work in the United States.

To obtain a TWIC card, applicants must:

1. Prove legal identity through original birth certificates, passports, or other primary identity documents

2. Provide biometric data including fingerprints and photographs

3. Pass FBI criminal history background check searching all 50 states and U.S. territories

4. Pass TSA security threat assessment, including terrorism watchlists and immigration databases

5. Verify immigration status through real-time queries of DHS databases, including SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements)

6. Pay fees currently $125.25 for new enrollment, $117.25 for renewals

Since its implementation, more than 3.3 million TWIC credentials have been issued. The system works. It catches people with criminal records. It catches people with fraudulent documents. It catches people without legal work authorization.

Why TWIC Should Be Required for All CDL Holders

The logic is simple: If we require thorough background checks and immigration verification for someone to walk onto a cargo ship in Long Beach, why don’t we need the same verification for someone driving an 80,000-pound truck loaded with hazardous materials through downtown Los Angeles?

The truck driver has access to far more potential victims. The truck driver operates with far less oversight. The truck driver can cause far more damage, intentionally or negligently.

Requiring TWIC as a prerequisite for CDL issuance would:

Eliminate document fraud: TWIC enrollment requires original documents and biometric verification that can’t be easily faked.

Verify legal work authorization: Real-time database queries catch expired visas, bogus TPS claims, and fraudulent EADs.

Create a single verification standard: Instead of 50 state DMV systems with varying levels of competence and compliance, a single federal standard applies nationwide.

Enable ongoing monitoring: TWIC credentials are tied to continuous watchlist vetting, if someone’s immigration status changes or they’re charged with disqualifying crimes, their TWIC gets revoked.

Provide an enforcement mechanism: Officers at weigh stations can instantly verify TWIC status, and trucks without valid TWIC-holding drivers can be immediately impounded.

The National Driver Authorization Clearinghouse Model

The alcohol and drug testing clearinghouse, implemented in 2020, provides another proven model for creating a national driver verification system.

The Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse requires:

• All employers to query the database before hiring any CDL driver

• All employers to conduct annual queries on existing drivers

• Reporting of all positive drug/alcohol tests, refusals to test, and violations

• Drivers to complete return-to-duty protocols before driving again

Since implementation, the clearinghouse has caught thousands of drivers with disqualifying violations who previously moved between carriers to avoid detection.

A National Driver Authorization Clearinghouse modeled on this system could:

Track immigration status in real-time: Automatic updates when visas expire, work authorization changes, or deportation orders are issued.

Flag document fraud attempts: Cross-reference Social Security numbers, birth dates, biometric data across all CDL applications nationwide.

Enable instant verification: Every roadside inspection, every weigh station stop, every employment application checks the driver’s authorization status.

Create accountability: Every time an unauthorized driver is hired, the carrier gets flagged and faces penalties.

Cost estimate: $50-75 million development, $15-20 million annual operation, far less than the economic cost of crashes caused by unauthorized drivers.

The Cost-Benefit Analysis

Let’s talk money, since that’s the only language policy makers understand.

Cost of implementing TWIC prerequisite:

• Technology integration: $50 million one-time

• Annual operation: $15-20 million

• Individual driver cost: $125 per 5 years

• Total program cost: Under $100 million annually for 3.5 million CDL holders

Cost of not implementing:

• Tuesday’s crash alone: 3 deaths, four hospitalizations, millions in property damage, emergency response costs, economic losses from highway closure

• Annual crashes involving foreign national drivers: Hundreds of fatalities, thousands of injuries, billions in economic losses

• Criminal justice costs: Prosecution, incarceration, deportation proceedings.

• Insurance liability: Carriers with unauthorized drivers create massive underwriting risks

The financial case for TWIC prerequisites is overwhelming. The political case is even stronger. The moral case is unanswerable.

So why hasn’t it happened?

The Political Will Problem: Why Solutions Don’t Get Implemented

Every tool needed to solve this problem already exists. TWIC technology is proven. The Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse model works. Legal authority to condition highway funding on compliance is apparent. State motor carrier enforcement infrastructure exists at 1,500 weigh stations nationwide.

What’s missing is political will.

California Governor Gavin Newsom would rather fight federal enforcement than implement basic verification. His administration has repeatedly challenged federal immigration policies in court, declared California a “sanctuary state,” and instructed DMV employees to resist cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

State DMV employees would rather process applications quickly than thoroughly verify legal status. Employee unions oppose additional verification requirements, claiming they’re “discriminatory” and “burdensome.” Managers prioritize customer service metrics over compliance.

Trucking companies would rather exploit cheap labor than pay competitive wages to legal workers. Many carriers deliberately avoid verifying immigration status, using willful ignorance as a liability shield. Ethnic network carriers often view immigration enforcement as threatening their entire business model.

Federal agencies have failed to coordinate enforcement. FMCSA focuses on safety metrics, not immigration. ICE focuses on border enforcement and criminal aliens, not commercial drivers. TSA administers TWIC for maritime but has no role in trucking. CBP operates at borders and airports, but rarely at inland weigh stations.

Congress talks tough about border security but refuses to pass legislation mandating immigration verification for commercial drivers. Members from trucking-dependent districts fear industry backlash. Members from immigrant-heavy districts fear accusations of discrimination.

And people keep dying.

What Needs to Happen Now

The solutions are clear. The authority exists. The technology works. Here’s exactly what needs to happen at every level of government.

Federal Level: Executive Action Within 90 Days

1. Mandate TWIC prerequisites for all CDL issuances and renewals

The President can direct the Department of Transportation to require TWIC as a condition of CDL issuance. No new legislation needed, administrative rulemaking under existing authority.

Implementation timeline:

• Day 1-30: Publish emergency rule

• Day 31-90: State compliance planning

• Day 91: New CDL applications require TWIC

• March 1, 2026: All existing CDL holders must have TWIC or face suspension

2. Implement National Driver Authorization Clearinghouse

Model after Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Real-time immigration status verification, biometric data repository, and automatic alerts when status changes.

Budget allocation:

• $50-75 million development

• $15-20 million annual operation

• Funded through existing FMCSA budget reallocation and user fees

3. Condition federal highway funding on state compliance

The federal government provides billions annually in highway funding and MCSAP grants. Condition funding on states implementing proper immigration verification before CDL issuance.

California receives approximately $5 billion in federal highway funds annually. Threatening even 10% of that funding would force compliance overnight.

4. Deploy CBP officers to weigh stations inland

Within 100-mile border zones (covering major population centers in California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, and other border states), co-locate CBP agents at high-volume weigh stations.

Legal authority already exists. Resources can be reallocated from less critical border positions. Immediate impact on unauthorized driver detection.

5. Criminal prosecution for Owners who hire unqualified drivers and DMV employees who knowingly issue improper licenses

Federal charges for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens (8 USC 1324) apply to government employees who deliberately issue licenses to people they know lack legal status.

Announce aggressive prosecution policy. Conduct sting operations. Make examples of corrupt employees. Watch compliance rates skyrocket.

State Level: California Specifically Must Act

1. Immediate audit of all non-domiciled CDLs issued in the past 5 years

California must disclose how many non-domiciled CDLs it has issued and conduct comprehensive background checks on every holder. Revoke licenses that were improperly issued. Notify carriers that their drivers’ licenses are suspended.

2. Biometric verification for all CDL transactions

Implement fingerprint capture tied to DHS databases. Cross-reference against immigration records, criminal history, and fraud databases. Flag discrepancies for investigation.

Technology exists. California already uses biometric verification for REAL ID standard licenses. Extend to commercial licenses.

3. Real-time DHS SAVE queries before any CDL issuance

No license without confirmed work authorization. DMV systems must query the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database and receive positive confirmation before processing any commercial license application.

If the database query returns “no match” or “status unclear,” the application is denied pending manual review.

4. End sanctuary policies for commercial drivers

Personal vehicle operation is one thing. Commercial vehicle operation is another. California should immediately exempt commercial drivers from sanctuary policies and require cooperation with ICE detainers for any CDL holder involved in crashes or serious violations.

5. Public disclosure and accountability

California DMV Director must release comprehensive data:

• How many AB60 licenses have been issued since 2015

• How many AB60 holders obtained CLPs

• How many AB60 holders obtained CDLs

• What verification processes were used

• How many fraudulent applications were detected

• What disciplinary actions were taken against employees who failed to verify documents properly

Transparency is the first step toward accountability.

Carrier Level: Three Strikes and You’re Out

1. Mandatory clearinghouse queries before hiring. Require all carriers to check the National Driver Authorization Clearinghouse before employing any CDL driver. $25,000 penalty per unauthorized driver employed. Pattern violations trigger authority revocation.

2. Three-strikes policy for carriers employing illegal immigrant. First offense: Warning, fine, and 30-day audit period. Second offense: 90-day authority suspension. Third offense: Permanent revocation of operating authority. No exceptions. No appeals based on “we didn’t know.” Carriers are responsible for verifying legal work authorization. If they fail, they don’t operate.

3. Insurance industry participation. Require insurers to verify driver authorization before issuing commercial vehicle policies. Automatic policy cancellation if unauthorized drivers are discovered. Create financial incentives for carriers to maintain strict compliance.

Underwriters should demand proof of TWIC credentials for all listed drivers. Policies should include exclusions for any claims involving unauthorized drivers.

Individual Level: What Drivers and Carriers Should Do Now

If you hold a non-domiciled CDL:

Check your visa status. If you’re not H-2A, H-2B, or E-2, you have until March 1, 2026, under current rules. After that, your license will be revoked unless you have proper work authorization.

Start planning your exit strategy now. If you’re here illegally, no pathway to legal status will materialize. You will eventually be caught, prosecuted, and deported. Better to leave voluntarily than wait for enforcement.

If you employ drivers with questionable status:

You are breaking federal law. You are creating massive liability for your company. You are contributing to crashes that kill innocent people.

Start recruiting legal drivers now. Finding 200,000 replacement drivers will take time. Wages will have to increase. Benefits will have to improve. That’s how legal labor markets work.

The alternative is having your operating authority revoked, your insurance canceled, and potentially facing criminal prosecution.

If you’re a legal immigrant driver:

You’re unaffected by these changes. TWIC prerequisites verify legal status; they don’t discriminate against anyone lawfully present in the United States with work authorization. In fact, strict enforcement helps legal immigrant drivers by eliminating unfair competition from illegal operators willing to work for below-market wages.

The Global Context: Why This Matters Beyond One Crash

The I-10 crash killed three people. But the policies that allowed Singh to obtain a CDL and operate a commercial vehicle have national and international implications that extend far beyond Tuesday’s tragedy.

Economic security: Approximately 200,000 unauthorized commercial drivers operate in the United States, representing about 5-6% of the total CDL workforce. Their presence depresses wages for legal drivers, creates unfair competition for compliant carriers, and undermines labor standards throughout the industry.

National security: Every unauthorized driver with a CDL represents a potential security vulnerability. While the vast majority are simply looking for work, the complete failure of immigration verification means we cannot identify individuals with criminal histories, terrorist connections, or other disqualifying backgrounds.

Public safety: Unauthorized drivers have strong incentives to avoid law enforcement contact, leading to unreported crashes, unresolved traffic violations, and patterns of noncompliance that escape oversight.

Trade relationships: Our inability to control who operates commercial vehicles undermines international trade agreements and creates tensions with trading partners who maintain stricter standards.

Rule of law: When government agencies openly defy federal immigration law, when DMV employees knowingly issue fraudulent licenses, when carriers deliberately employ unauthorized workers, the entire system of laws becomes meaningless.

The Enforcement Infrastructure Already Exists

Critics claim that implementing comprehensive immigration verification for commercial drivers would require massive new bureaucracies, the development of impossible technology, or constitutional violations.

They’re wrong on all counts.

Legal authority exists: The Federal government already requires immigration verification for employment (I-9 forms), welfare benefits (SAVE database), airport security (TSA PreCheck), maritime access (TWIC), and dozens of other contexts. Extending to commercial driver’s licenses requires no new legislation.

Technology exists: TWIC has been operational since 2007. Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse has been operational since 2020. DHS SAVE database handles millions of queries annually. Biometric verification is standard at border crossings and airports. Integration with state DMV systems is straightforward.

Infrastructure exists: 1,500 weigh stations nationwide conduct 3.5 million commercial vehicle inspections annually. State motor carrier enforcement agencies already verify licenses, insurance, and safety compliance during roadside inspections. Adding immigration verification takes minutes.

Personnel exists: FMCSA employs thousands of inspectors. State highway patrol agencies have commercial vehicle enforcement divisions. CBP has the authority to operate within 100-mile border zones covering major population centers. Resources exist; they simply need to be directed toward commercial driver verification.

Financial resources exist: The Federal government spends billions on highway infrastructure, safety programs, and border enforcement. Reallocating $100 million annually to implement comprehensive driver authorization verification represents less than 1% of existing transportation spending.

What’s missing isn’t capability. It’s will.

Why This Keeps Happening. Regulatory Capture and Political Incentives

Three people are dead. Four more were hospitalized. Millions in property damage. Interstate commerce disrupted. Emergency responders were traumatized by what they found in those burning vehicles.

And yet nothing will change unless political pressure forces it to.

Here’s why:

Trucking industry lobbying: American Trucking Associations and affiliated groups have powerful lobbying arms that oppose stricter driver verification requirements, claiming they would create driver shortages and increase costs. Industry contributions to political campaigns ensure sympathetic treatment.

Immigrant advocacy organizations: Groups like ACLU, NILC (National Immigration Law Center), and Unidos US oppose any immigration verification requirements, characterizing them as discriminatory and unconstitutional regardless of the public safety rationale.

State government revenue: California DMV processes hundreds of thousands of license applications annually, generating substantial fee revenue. Stricter verification would slow processing, reduce volume, and decrease revenue.

Ethnic political constituencies: Punjabi American communities, Hispanic communities, and other immigrant groups represent significant voting blocs in California, Illinois, Texas, and other states. Politicians fear backlash from advocating stricter immigration enforcement.

Federal agency turf battles: FMCSA wants to focus on safety metrics, not immigration. ICE intends to focus on border enforcement and criminal aliens. TSA wants to focus on aviation and maritime. No agency wants responsibility for commercial driver immigration verification because it’s politically toxic and budget-consuming.

Media narrative: Mainstream media outlets characterize immigration enforcement as “racist” and “xenophobic,” making elected officials reluctant to champion common-sense verification requirements for fear of negative coverage.

The result is policy paralysis. Everyone knows the system is broken. Everyone knows more crashes will happen. But no one wants to be the person who stands up and demands enforcement, because doing so invites attacks from well-funded lobbying organizations and activist groups.

So people keep dying.

The Comparable Case. Volodymyr Zhukovskyy and the Failure to Learn

This isn’t the first time an immigrant driver with a questionable background caused a mass fatality crash. It won’t be the last unless we fix the system.

On June 21, 2019, Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, a Ukrainian immigrant with a long history of drug offenses and traffic violations, was driving a hot shot in Randolph, New Hampshire, when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a group of motorcyclists. Seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club died. Four others were injured.

Zhukovskyy was eventually found NOT GUILTY of negligent homicide. He’s free. He will be petitioning again to have his CDL reinstated once his suspension for DUI expires in a few months. He’s here illegally but can’t be deported due to TPS.

Here’s what’s relevant to Singh’s case:

Multiple states failed to communicate his violations. Zhukovskyy had a Massachusetts CDL but was arrested for OUI in Connecticut just weeks before the crash. Massachusetts never received notification and never suspended his license.

Immigration status was never verified. Despite multiple interactions with law enforcement, no one checked whether Zhukovskyy had legal work authorization or a valid immigration status.

His employer (Westfield Transport) failed to properly vet him. The carrier didn’t conduct thorough background checks, didn’t query the clearinghouse (which didn’t exist yet), and didn’t verify legal work authorization.

Regulatory agencies failed to intervene. Despite a pattern of violations, Zhukovskyy kept his CDL and kept driving until he killed seven people.

After the crash, there were calls for reform. Congressional hearings. Media investigations. Promises of “never again,” and yet here we are six years later, and Jashanpreet Singh, an illegal immigrant who should never have had a CDL, killed three more people while high on drugs behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle.

We don’t learn. We don’t fix the system. We wait until the next tragedy, express outrage, promise reform, then do nothing. How many more people have to die before we actually implement the solutions that already exist?