Sean Duffy Criticizes California Officials Over ICE Driver’s License Dispute

In a persistent debate over immigration enforcement and licensing protocols, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy delivered a sharp rebuke to California officials, specifically Governor Gavin Newsom and Representative Eric Swalwell. The discussion revolves around the potential revocation of driver's licenses issued to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents within the state, a measure advocated by Rep. Swalwell that has drawn considerable attention and backlash. Duffy took to the social media platform X on Sunday to voice his strong disapproval, accusing Newsom and Swalwell of prioritizing the protection of undocumented immigrants at the expense of American citizens. "California's leadership puts Californians last once AGAIN," Duffy stated, emphasizing his contention that the state’s current policies undermine citizen interests. A central point of contention is the allegation that California has distributed over 17,000 commercial trucking licenses illegally to foreign drivers. Duffy criticized Governor Newsom for purportedly failing to revoke these licenses, which he suggests jeopardizes the state’s regulatory integrity and workforce standards within the trucking industry. He implied that such inaction contributes to the broader issue of misplaced priorities by state leadership. Furthermore, Duffy condemned Rep. Swalwell's proposal to strip ICE agents of their driver's licenses, asserting that such measures would hinder these agents from effectively performing their duties. He framed this move as an obstruction of law enforcement responsibilities, reinforcing his narrative that state-level decisions are counterproductive to federal immigration enforcement efforts. In a related development, Duffy previously announced plans to retract nearly $160 million in federal funding allocated to California, directly addressing the commercial driver’s license dispute. Extending his scrutiny beyond California, Duffy also highlighted Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, where over $30 million in federal funding is at risk due to similar allegations of illegal issuance of CDLs to undocumented drivers. This signals Duffy's broader intent to hold states accountable where federal and state policies on licensing and immigration enforcement diverge. The broader federal agency involved, ICE, has encountered opposition from several political figures, notably Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York. AOC criticized the agency stating that over 70% of detainees lack a criminal record, thereby challenging the narrative established by former President Donald Trump regarding public safety and immigration enforcement. Governor Walz echoed skepticism about ICE's effectiveness, noting the absence of verifiable evidence that the agency's actions significantly enhance national security. Such assessments have drawn rebuke from federal authorities, underscoring the contentious nature of immigration enforcement at state and federal levels. Additionally, Secretary Duffy addressed an international trade issue involving Canada’s recent policy decision to impose a 6.1% tariff on the initial batch of 49,000 electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured in China entering the Canadian market. Duffy predicted that Canada might regret this tariff implementation, although further elaboration on potential consequences was not provided. This comment indicates Duffy's engagement in broader transportation and trade matters beyond domestic licensing debates. Amid these developments, resources such as Benzinga Edge’s Government Trade Tracker offer ongoing insights into stock trades filed by members of the U.S. Congress under the STOCK Act, highlighting investor behaviors alongside evolving policy landscapes. The platform tracks numerous active trades, reflecting the dynamic intersection of legislative activity and financial markets. This series of events captures a complex tension point involving state governance, federal immigration enforcement, labor regulations in the trucking industry, and cross-border trade policy. Transport Secretary Duffy's criticisms underscore persistent clashes over jurisdiction, regulatory authority, and priorities affecting commerce, public safety, and immigration policy enforcement across different regions and sectors.