Shapiro and DHS Clash Over Illegal Immigrant Trucker’s CDL Vetting Failure
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has entered a heated dispute with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the arrest of an Uzbek illegal immigrant, Akhror Bozorov, who was detained while operating a commercial truck in Kansas with a Pennsylvania CDL. Bozorov, suspected of having ties to terrorist groups, was identified by federal authorities as a wanted individual in Uzbekistan. Despite being flagged in the federal SAVE database—which PennDOT uses to verify noncitizen licensure—his license was issued in July, and authorities claim he remains in the database as qualified for a CDL.
Shapiro accused DHS of failing to adequately vet noncitizens, criticizing the agency as being ‘clearly not minding the shop’ and calling for reform. He stated that all states rely on the federal database to determine CDL eligibility, and Pennsylvania followed the process before approving Bozorov’s license. However, DHS countered that work authorization, which Bozorov reportedly received, does not equate to legal residency in the U.S. The agency emphasized that data limitations from previous administrations hindered more comprehensive oversight.
Officials from PennDOT and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania defended their procedures, noting that noncitizens with valid licenses are marked with ‘special indicators’ to block them from participating in motor voter registration. In a letter to lawmakers, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt denied allegations that illegal immigrants were allowed to obtain state licenses, asserting their adherence to federal guidelines. The incident has intensified political scrutiny, with Republicans and some members of the public demanding transparency and accountability from Shapiro’s administration.