Pennsylvania Republicans are pressing for answers after an Uzbek national arrested in Kansas was found to hold a Pennsylvania commercial driver’s license despite being in the U.S. illegally. Lawmakers say PennDOT needs to explain how that license was issued and whether federal verification systems were used correctly. The dispute has escalated into accusations that the Shapiro administration is prioritizing optics over safety and a formal demand for investigations. Tensions are high and officials on both sides are trading charges as the state works to respond.
State Sen. Jarrett Coleman says he warned PennDOT days before the arrest and sent a formal letter demanding details about how noncitizens obtain CDLs. He argues that last week’s arrest is “deeply disturbing but not surprising” and is evidence the administration is “prioritiz[ing] political optics over public safety.” This is framed as a failure to answer simple, public-facing questions about the integrity of licensing procedures.
Coleman made the letter public and it was cosigned by other Republican senators who want a full accounting of whether PennDOT reviewed files for CDL holders arrested by federal authorities. They requested a range of datapoints, including whether those drivers were properly verified when licenses were issued. The lawmakers are seeking transparency on the use of federal verification systems and any internal audits that might expose systemic problems.
“Public safety is not negotiable,” he said, stressing that officials cannot ignore potential risks linked to CDL issuance. Republicans point to an earlier round of arrests in another state where a number of noncitizen truckers were reportedly licensed in Pennsylvania. That history feeds the demand for a thorough, public explanation rather than silence or delay from state officials.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll has been asked whether his agency uses Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements to confirm immigration status in real time before issuing a CDL. The senators also wanted to know whether PennDOT complied with a federal directive to halt certain non-domiciled CDL issuances. The request included questions about oversight mechanisms and any corrective action plans in place to manage risks to drivers and the public.
A PennDOT spokeswoman confirmed the agency received the letter and is preparing a response, emphasizing that non-citizen applicants are checked against federal records. She said “when non-citizen applicants apply for a CDL in Pennsylvania, PennDOT follows applicable federal and state processes, reviewing the necessary immigration and naturalization documents and confirming the non-citizen’s legal status in real-time using [DHS’] SAVE database before issuing a license — if the applicant clears the SAVE process, which confirms the applicant is residing in the U.S. under legal status, and successfully meets all other criteria, a license is issued.” The spokeswoman added that those checks are completed every time a license is issued to a non-citizen.
Carroll, who previously served in the state legislature, defended his team’s work and expressed confidence in license verification procedures and the documentation required for REAL ID and CDLs. Republicans remain skeptical and say public confidence rests on clear answers, audits, and accountability for any lapses. They argue the administration must share records that show how a person linked to concerning activity could still receive a commercial license.
The Pennsylvania Republican Party stepped in with its own demand for action, calling the situation “not just a policy failure but a national security breach right here in Pennsylvania.” Party leaders have questioned how someone allegedly tied to terrorism could pass checks and obtain the credentials to operate an 18-wheeler. That language underscores the national security angle Republicans are using to press for investigations.
Officials also noted that the license in question listed a Philadelphia ZIP code and that earlier ICE activity highlighted a broader pattern prompting lawmakers to act. Republicans are pushing for federal and state oversight authorities to open a formal probe into the decision-making that allowed the license to be granted. The PAGOP made a public statement asking for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the license issuance.
Shapiro’s office pushed back at critics and suggested questions be directed to federal officials who manage the databases PennDOT checks, saying “If officials are concerned about this, they should redirect their attention to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who manages the federal database that is checked before any Pennsylvania licenses are issued to non-citizens,” said Rosie Lapowsky, a spokeswoman for Shapiro. That response shifts the debate to federal responsibilities and the integrity of national systems used by states.
Republican leaders insist state-level accountability cannot be avoided by pointing fingers at Washington and demand PennDOT produce the records requested by the senators. They want to know who signed off, whether proper procedures were followed, and if any personnel failures occurred. Calls for firings and direct answers to voters have been part of the GOP push since the arrest became public.
Lawmakers say the situation merits more than talking points and must be treated as a real threat to public safety until proven otherwise. They are demanding documentation, audits, and a clear plan to prevent any recurrence. The back-and-forth looks set to continue as both state officials and party leaders jockey for control of the narrative and press for next steps.
