Harris for SOS

Meanwhile, the Illinois Secretary of State is refusing to revoke non-domiciled CDLs (truck driver's licenses) identified in a Dept. of Transportation audit as having been unlawfully issued in violation of federal law. The DOT audit--conducted by FMCSA--found "systemic policy, procedural, and programming errors" in how the IL SOS office issued nearly 11,000 non-domiciled CDLs to foreigners and, in some cases, to those here illegally over the past few years. IL SOS: "Every Non-Domiciled CDL applicant in Illinois presented validly issued immigration documents to SOS at the time of their Non-Dom CDL transaction," the office wrote in a response to the feds last week. That claim is contrary to FMCSA findings--which identified several instances of either incorrect or expired immigration documents accepted by the IL SOS in issuing non-domiciled CDLs. Some applicants did not cite a country of origin. IL SOS also disclosed copies of required documents--unexpired passports, employment authorization forms--were not kept by the office because it wasn't required by federal law. At risk is $128 million in federal highway funds--not to mention the safety of Illinois (and national) roadways. If IL SOS continues to refuse to cooperate with efforts to identify and revoke unlawfully issued ND-CDLs, the feds can suspend the state's ENTIRE CDL program. FMCSA is expected to reply to IL SOS claims soon.