Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons criticized New York officials for issuing commercial driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, including a man from India who was found with an ID that did not specify his name.
Lyons expressed his dismay after the truck driver, Anmol Anmol, was found driving in the U.S. with a license stating “No Name Given” before his arrest in Oklahoma last month.
“It’s incredibly alarming,” Lyons stated during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Big Weekend Show” on Saturday. “Seeing ‘No Name Given’ on a driver’s license issued by the state is just unacceptable. What’s worse is there’s a REAL ID star right in the corner.”
“For me, obtaining my REAL ID felt like going through a security clearance.”
Lyons was referencing the CDL license that Anmol was carrying when he was stopped for a routine check at an I-40 truck scale in Oklahoma.
The ID issued by New York State only listed Anmol’s last name, with his first and middle name slots filled with “No Name Given.”
Anmol was taken into custody by federal agents upon discovering he had illegally crossed into the U.S. during the Biden administration in 2023, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security on Friday.
He has since entered removal proceedings following his arrest.
“I cannot fathom that we are issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens who have no legal right to be here,” Lyons remarked.
REAL IDs permit holders to fly domestically and access federal properties without a passport.
To acquire these IDs, New Yorkers must present multiple documents at the DMV to verify their identity, Social Security number, and state residency.
The method through which Anmol obtained the ID remains undisclosed, but the New York DMV confirmed the license was valid, having been issued on April 14 and expiring on May 26, 2028.
“States with sanctuary policies are creating a hospitable environment for individuals whose identities we don’t even know,” Lyons said. “These are CDL licenses, and these individuals may be transporting hazardous materials. In some instances, we truly don’t know what they are up to.”
Lyons deemed the situation perilous, asserting that fatalities have resulted from such drivers.
<p“Consider the number of American lives lost due to drivers like this who possess such licenses,” he expressed.
In April, three Haitians tragically lost their lives when an illegal immigrant, Harjinder Singh, made an illegal U-turn in a truck, leading to the horrific crash on a Florida highway.
Singh had acquired a driver’s license and work permit in California, holding licenses from both California and Washington State.
Prior to getting these licenses, Singh had failed an English proficiency test and a highway signage exam following the August 12 incident.
Lyons announced that the DHS has been collaborating with local and federal law enforcement to address the issue of such questionable licenses.
“Homeland Security Investigations has committed to partnering with state police departments and federal entities to eliminate these IDs from circulation,” he concluded.
