Supreme Court rejects Florida’s bid to sue Western states over truck licenses for immigrants
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected Florida’s long-shot effort to sue California and Washington state over issuing commercial driver’s licenses to truckers who don’t speak English and don’t have permission to be in the United States.
The case stems from an accident that occurred in Florida last year killing three people. Driver, Harjinder SinghHe is accused of making an illegal U-turn, which caused the accident. Singh, who is from India, carried a valid commercial driver’s license from California and had previously been issued by Washington state.
Republican-led Florida accused Democratic-led Western states of openly flouting immigration laws and asked judges to rule that states do not have the authority to issue CDLs to people who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents.
The Supreme Court usually hears appeals of lower court decisions, but sometimes also hears cases known as original cases, in which states sue each other in the nation’s highest court.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from Tuesday’s decision, saying the court had no choice but to hear such cases, as they often do when the court dismisses an original case.
Separately, a federal appeals court blocked the Trump administration’s bid to impose it. new restrictions This would severely limit which immigrants can obtain a commercial driver’s license to drive a semitrailer truck or bus.
