Federal officials have confirmed that the driver of a tour bus involved in a fatal highway accident in Tennessee was an illegal immigrant from China who managed to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) issued by the state of New York, sparking strong criticism from the federal government on “sanctuary state” immigration and licensing policies.
According to a joint statement released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation on Wednesday (December 17), 54-year-old Huang Yisong illegally entered the United States in 2023 through the U.S.-Mexico border and was subsequently released following the Biden administration’s policies, eventually settling in Brooklyn, New York. Huang later obtained federal work authorization documents and a social security number, and this year successfully applied for a commercial driver’s license in New York.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirsti Noem stated in a press release that “too many innocent Americans have died in large truck accidents caused by illegal immigrant drivers” in the past, criticizing sanctuary states like New York for issuing commercial licenses to illegal immigrants, posing a threat to public safety.
According to police reports, Huang is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter in connection with a multiple-vehicle accident on Interstate 40 in Tennessee last week, which resulted in the death of a 31-year-old truck driver and injuries to over ten others.
The New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) denied any wrongdoing in issuing the license, stating on Wednesday that the license was issued on April 11, 2025, with the applicant providing valid federal work authorization documents and a social security card, in compliance with existing regulations.
This incident comes at a time when the Trump administration is vigorously cracking down on illegal immigration. Noem emphasized that the government is expediting the removal of “criminal illegal immigrants” to ensure they stay away from communities and highways.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also vowed last week to withdraw up to $73 million in federal highway funds from New York if the audit confirms allegations that licenses are “routinely” issued to foreign-born drivers in the state.
Duffy criticized the Biden administration for not only allowing a large influx of illegal immigrants but also issuing licenses to “unqualified foreign drivers,” enabling them to drive heavy trucks weighing up to 40 tons on the roads.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Huang was driving the tour bus on December 9 while watching a video on his phone, causing a rear-end collision with a tractor-trailer ahead and triggering a chain reaction of vehicle collisions on the road.
Police noted that Huang failed an English proficiency test at the accident scene. He is currently being held in Putnam County Jail in Tennessee.
In August of this year, an illegal immigrant truck driver from India made an illegal U-turn on a highway north of West Palm Beach, Florida, resulting in a crash that claimed three lives. The driver was residing illegally in the U.S. and held a California driver’s license.
In October, a 21-year-old Indian driver drove a semi-trailer on California’s Interstate 10, hitting multiple vehicles and causing a fire that killed at least three people. The driver was also an illegal immigrant.