Florida is making waves in the legal waters.
Late Wednesday, Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that Florida has initiated a significant lawsuit against California in the U.S. Supreme Court. The suit alleges that Governor Gavin Newsom’s “sanctuary” state policies pose a danger to American citizens and infringe upon constitutional rights.
“We’ve taken a stand against Gavin Newsom and California,” Uthmeier stated emphatically. “Their so-called ‘sanctuary’ laws are not only harmful to states like Florida, but they are also a direct threat to public safety.”
“California must bear the consequences of the havoc their open border policies and reckless issuance of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) have wrought,” he added.
The impetus for the lawsuit arose from a tragic incident in Florida, where an illegal immigrant from India, Harjinder Singh, crashed his vehicle, resulting in the deaths of three Haitian nationals who were lawfully residing in the U.S.
Singh had obtained a CDL from California, subsequently acquiring a work permit from the Biden administration in June 2021, after a previous denial from the Trump administration. While Singh illegally crossed the border in 2018, it was under Biden’s watch that he received approval to work and live in the United States, and California facilitated his driving privileges.
As Sean Hannity pointed out on Fox News, the dubious nature of California’s licensing system allowed an individual who was ill-equipped—unable to read road signs or communicate in English—to operate a vehicle legally.
With federal law mandating English proficiency and road safety knowledge for commercial drivers, it raises eyebrows that obtaining a CDL could be so straightforward for those failing to meet these basic requirements.
In light of this tragedy, the Department of Transportation, led by Sean Duffy, has declared it will withhold $40 million in federal grants from California due to their failure to enforce necessary English proficiency standards.
During a discussion with Hannity, Uthmeier elaborated on the constitutional implications of their legal action:
Sean Hannity:
“In California, there exists what they call the California Values Act, which prohibits agencies, including licensing bodies, from inquiring about immigration status. Yet here we have an individual who couldn’t read or speak English—lives could have been spared, don’t you think?”Attorney General James Uthmeier:
“It’s tragic. This is precisely why we are holding Gavin Newsom accountable in the Supreme Court. We filed this lawsuit to ensure they are held responsible for the fallout of their sanctuary policies that adversely impact states like Florida.”“No matter how diligent we are in enforcing laws and supporting law enforcement in Florida, we still face risks when California and other liberal states facilitate illegal immigration, encourage it, and issue licenses that enable these individuals to traverse the nation and endanger lives.”
“The consequences of allowing drug cartels to operate unchecked are severe, and we will not allow California to escape accountability. They must answer for their actions.”
Hannity continued to press the issue, asking critical questions about the liability of sanctuary states in facilitating illegal immigration. He queried whether such policies could indeed amount to aiding and abetting crime.
Attorney General James Uthmeier:
“They are culpable. Their priorities lie with illegal immigrants over the safety of American citizens—individuals who suffer daily from the repercussions of these open-border policies.”“This lawsuit aims to challenge the leniency prevalent in policies across the country that don’t yield favorable outcomes. While our nation grapples with issues stemming from these misguided approaches, Florida remains steadfast in its commitment to lawful governance, holding individuals accountable for law violations.”
In closing their discussion, Hannity expressed optimism about the legal battle ahead, suggesting that the Supreme Court could soon be called upon to rule on this pressing matter.
WATCH:
“Tonight, we filed a lawsuit against Gavin Newsom and California in the U.S. Supreme Court because their so-called ‘sanctuary’ policies for illegal aliens are harming states like Florida.
California must pay for the carnage of their open border policies and unlawful CDL programs.” pic.twitter.com/iEauMlWXkY
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) October 16, 2025
