Trump Administration Threatens To Withhold Funds From States That Don't Enforce English Requirements For Truck Drivers

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Tuesday that 3 Democrat-led states must enforce English connection proficiency requirements for commercialized drivers aliases look national backing cuts.

Duffy singled retired California, Washington and New Mexico, saying they had 30 days to comply earlier seeing their costs from nan Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program trim off. That money intends to thief authorities and section rule enforcement agencies amended commercialized conveyance safety.

The administration's move comes connected nan heels of a deadly Florida clang that conservatives person pointed to successful their criticism of policies that they opportunity allowed migrants to participate nan U.S. illegally.

"States don’t get to prime and take which national information rules to follow," Duffy said successful a property merchandise detailing nan announcement. "As we saw pinch nan horrific Florida clang that killed three, erstwhile states neglect to enforce nan law, they put nan driving nationalist successful danger."

NBC News has reached retired to nan offices of nan governors of California, Washington and New Mexico for comment.

Duffy's connection referred to a fatal clang that authorities opportunity was caused by a migrant who was successful nan U.S. illegally.

The U.S. Marshals Service announced earlier this period nan apprehension of Harjinder Singh, who was allegedly driving a semi-truck pulling a trailer that collapsed into a vehicle, sidesplitting 3 people.

Singh allegedly entered nan U.S. illegally successful 2018, according to nan U.S. Marshals Service. Law enforcement officials interviewed Singh aft nan clang utilizing translator services, according to nan apprehension affidavit.

Singh's lawsuit outraged conservatives, who painted nan clang arsenic a consequence of migration. The Department of Homeland Security accused Singh of failing an English connection proficiency assessment.

Singh had obtained his commercialized driver's licence successful California, according to nan U.S. Marshals Service.

In remarks to reporters connected Tuesday, Duffy laid blasted connected each 3 states for nan deadly crash, which took spot successful Florida, criticizing Singh's receiving a license, pointing to him allegedly being pulled complete successful July for speeding, and criticizing New Mexico rule enforcement for not taking "his rig retired of service."

"This 1 driver touched each 3 states. Based connected our review, they are not complying pinch our rule," Duffy asserted.

Also connected nan heels of nan crash, Florida authorities officials announced this week that rule enforcement officials would beryllium stationed astatine checkpoints, moving pinch “federal and authorities partners connected migration enforcement and checking for English proficiency for commercialized drivers while continuing cultivation inspections.”

Following an executive order from President Donald Trump, Duffy successful May signed an bid strengthening English connection proficiency requirements for commercialized motortruck drivers and requiring drivers who do not meet nan modular to beryllium taken disconnected nan road.