Shapiro Confronts DHS Over Uzbek Immigrant Trucker’s License Vetting
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is facing mounting pressure from federal agencies and lawmakers after the arrest of an Uzbek illegal immigrant, Akhror Bozorov, who was found operating a commercial truck in Kansas with a Pennsylvania-issued commercial driver’s license (CDL). The incident has intensified debates over the vetting processes used by state and federal agencies to verify the legal status of noncitizens seeking to obtain licenses for commercial vehicles.
Bozorov, a resident of Somerton, Philadelphia, was apprehended by ICE while driving an 18-wheeler. According to DHS, he has been wanted in Uzbekistan on suspicion of ties to terrorist groups, and the agency has raised concerns about his potential to transport hazardous materials. The arrest has sparked questions about how a noncitizen with alleged terror ties was able to secure a license under state protocols.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Commonwealth’s Secretary of the Commonwealth, Al Schmidt, have defended their procedures, stating that all noncitizens who apply for a CDL must verify their legal presence in the U.S. through the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database. This requirement ensures that individuals holding foreign passports and non-U.S. citizenship are vetted to ensure they meet the criteria for operating commercial vehicles in the state.
Shapiro, a Democrat who has previously criticized the Biden administration’s policies and advocated for stricter immigration control, has taken an assertive stance on the issue. He stated that Bozorov remained in the federal database used to verify noncitizens’ eligibility for state-issued licenses, emphasizing that the process was followed to the letter. However, critics argue that the federal system failed to flag Bozorov as an undocumented individual, raising questions about data accuracy and the adequacy of security measures in place to prevent such lapses.
Despite the controversy, officials from PennDOT have maintained that the incident was not a result of negligence but rather a failure in the federal data system. They have pointed out that they communicated with DHS to address any potential concerns, and that the SAVE database did not flag any issues with Bozorov’s case when his license was issued in July. However, Shapiro’s office has been under scrutiny for not providing more transparency in the vetting process, especially given the nature of the individual’s alleged criminal background.
DHS has responded by disputing Shapiro’s claims, stating that federal work authorization does not equate to legal status for driving. They have also highlighted that data limitations are the result of prior administrative decisions, not deficiencies in their current processes. The agency has called for more rigorous oversight in states that rely on the SAVE database for verifying the eligibility of noncitizens, especially those who are suspected of being linked to criminal or terrorist activities.
The incident has drawn attention from both parties in Congress, with some lawmakers accusing Pennsylvania of failing to ensure the security of its transportation infrastructure. This has led to increased calls for federal oversight in state-led licensing procedures, particularly for commercial drivers operating across state lines. The debate over the incident is likely to intensify as more scrutiny is applied to the collaboration between state and federal agencies in verifying the legal status of noncitizens involved in critical transportation roles.
As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear whether there will be any changes to the existing vetting protocols or whether the responsibility for such lapses will shift to the federal level. However, the incident has undoubtedly highlighted the complexities of balancing immigration enforcement with the practicalities of state licensing procedures, and the need for more robust systems to prevent such incidents in the future.