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Indiana governor says new law will allow revocation of CDLs obtained by drivers unlawfully present
Summary
At a press briefing the governor outlined House Enrolled Act 1200, saying it strengthens CDL licensing, allows revocation of licenses obtained by people unlawfully present, and creates penalties for non-licensed drivers and employers; he cited an audit and a joint enforcement operation that led to arrests.
The governor announced that House Enrolled Act 1200 will strengthen IndianaCDL licensing, enable the state to revoke commercial driver licenses obtained by people unlawfully present in the United States and create new penalties for non-licensed drivers and the companies that employ them.
"Illegal aliens must never receive a CDL," the governor said, adding that Indiana will remove CDLs obtained improperly and penalize employers who hire unlicensed drivers. He framed the changes as a public-safety measure, saying the statehighest duty is the safety of citizens.
The governor described the state as a national logistics crossroads and said that reputation makes consistent CDL standards especially important. He identified House Enrolled Act 1200 as the statutory vehicle to strengthen the licensing process and enable removal of improperly obtained CDLs.
He credited Representative Jim Prele and said Prele described the measure as a first-in-the-nation action; the governor also acknowledged Senator Mike Krider and Attorney General Todd Roita for their leadership on the issue.
Speaking about enforcement, the governor said an audit of non-domiciled CDLs is underway and described a previous joint operation, Operation Midway Blitz, conducted with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana State Police. "This was a joint operation ... that resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens on Indiana highways near the Illinois state line, including 146 truck drivers," he said.
The governor emphasized that many immigrants legally present drive for a living and said the state would maintain due process to avoid penalizing legally certified drivers. He told attendees the effort will focus on licenses obtained improperly and on companies that employ unlicensed drivers.
When asked whether the new law is the start of a broader legislative push, the governor said it is a start and stressed the need for other states and legislatures to address out-of-state issuance of faulty CDLs. He said identifying source jurisdictions will require action beyond Indiana and that coordinated enforcement and legislative work in other states will be necessary.
The governor closed by reiterating the safety rationale and noting additional briefings on the bill are planned, including another session the following day.
The briefing did not include a vote or formal action; the governor described existing and planned enforcement and the statutory changes under House Enrolled Act 1200.
