The Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Florida against California and Washington, which accused these states of issuing commercial truck driver’s licenses to individuals who entered the U.S. illegally. The lawsuit emerged after a crash in Florida involving a truck driven by Harjinder Singh, an Indian national. The accident resulted in three deaths, and Florida claimed Singh had been wrongly issued licenses in both California and Washington.

The court denied Florida’s appeal without comment. However, Justice Clarence Thomas, supported by Justice Samuel Alito, expressed a willingness to hear the case. Thomas noted the absence of alternative venues for Florida to present its claims.

Filed directly with the Supreme Court by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the lawsuit argued that the actions of the Democratic-led states defied federal immigration laws and compromised federal safety regulations. It suggested that drivers who received licenses without appropriate training posed risks across state lines. Seventeen states, including Iowa, supported Florida’s legal stance.

In response, California and Washington contended there was no substantial basis for Supreme Court involvement. Washington’s Attorney General Nicholas Brown labeled the case a “political stunt” and highlighted Uthmeier’s announcement of the lawsuit on a conservative television program.

The legal challenge occurred as the Trump administration enforced stringent immigration policies. Following the incident, the administration threatened to withhold federal funds from California, Washington, and New Mexico unless they introduced English language requirements for commercial drivers.