Trump Targets Sanctuary Cities, Mandates English Test for Truck Drivers

On April 28, President Donald Trump, marking his 100th day in office, signed two executive orders aimed at tightening immigration enforcement and improving public safety across the United States.

Sanctuary cities face legal and financial consequences

According to The New York Times and The Hill, the first order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to publicly disclose a list of sanctuary cities—local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

These cities often decline to detain undocumented immigrants at ICE’s request and do not share immigration status information with federal authorities. The executive order calls for full legal and enforcement action against jurisdictions that continue to oppose federal immigration enforcement.

It also provides free legal support to law enforcement officers prosecuted for alleged illegal acts during official duties and permits the distribution of military-grade assets to local law enforcement agencies to assist in crime prevention.

Additionally, the order states that local officials will be held accountable if they unlawfully prohibit law enforcement officers from performing their duties.

English literacy test required for commercial truck drivers

In a separate executive order signed on April 28, Trump directed the federal government to develop an English literacy test for all commercial truck drivers operating in the U.S.

“Truck drivers perform a tough and dangerous job, transporting goods daily to businesses and communities,” Trump said. “But communication problems between drivers, federal agents, and local officials pose a serious threat to public safety.”

The order emphasizes that English proficiency is a non-negotiable requirement for commercial drivers. It specifies that drivers must be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with highway safety officers, border patrol agents, agricultural inspectors, and weigh station personnel. Drivers must also be capable of receiving instructions and providing feedback to employers and clients in English.

The Department of Transportation will draft the implementation plan, including guidelines for the literacy test. Those who fail to meet the requirement may be disqualified from working as truck drivers. However, the timeline for applying the rule to current drivers has not yet been announced.

According to Fox News, a federal English requirement has existed since 2001, but it was relaxed under the Obama administration in 2016. Under President Biden, the number of foreign truck drivers reportedly increased as the administration expanded training programs for asylum seekers.

BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]