Chicago City Wire

Ted Dabrowski, a gubernatorial candidate for Illinois, has called for the revocation of sanctuary policies, an audit of Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL), and multi-day truck inspections to ensure compliance with federal law. This statement was made in a press release.

"Before a preventable tragedy happens on Illinois roads like those we have seen in Florida and California, I call on Governor Pritzker to first revoke our sanctuary policies and then conduct a full audit of all CDL's and a multi-day operation to inspect all trucks entering Illinois to ensure they are safe and the driver has a valid license in accordance with federal law," said Dabrowski. "When Oklahoma conducted a 3-day operation to inspect trucks entering their state they found 25% of those they stopped were not in the country legally, and 90% of those were operating commercial motor vehicles. There is no doubt an Illinois inspection would yield similar results. The first priority for the government is to protect the people. Governor Pritzker has failed to do so by protecting criminal illegals and it is more likely than not that he has failed to uphold federal CDL laws as well."

A fatal crash in Wilmette, Illinois, involving an illegal immigrant with a fraudulently obtained California CDL has raised safety concerns. Critics argue that Illinois' 2023 HB3882 law, which allows non-citizens with work permits to obtain CDLs, increases the risk of fraud. As CDLs are valid across states, unsafe drivers from sanctuary states can legally operate nationwide. California has reportedly issued over 62,000 CDLs to illegal immigrants, prompting federal penalties and raising alarm over national road safety.

According to NPR Illinois, under Governor J.B. Pritzker, Illinois has reinforced sanctuary-style policies and limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Pritzker has publicly defended this stance, framing Illinois as a welcoming state even amid rising scrutiny of licensing and vetting standards critical to roadway safety. Supporters applaud protections; critics warn of enforcement gaps.

WTTW reports that in 2023, Pritzker signed HB3882 into law. This legislation ends the Temporary Visitor Driver's License (TVDL) program and allows non-citizens—regardless of immigration status—to obtain a standard four-year Illinois driver's license marked "Federal Limits Apply," effective July 1, 2024. Backers claim it reduces stigma; opponents argue it weakens vetting and opens a path from standard licenses to commercial credentials when paired with work authorization, elevating safety risks on busy freight corridors.

Dabrowski is a conservative policy advocate and president of Wirepoints who entered the 2026 Illinois Republican gubernatorial primary emphasizing public safety, fiscal reform, and accountability. He previously led policy work at the Illinois Policy Institute and worked in finance. His campaign argues for stricter licensing enforcement and audits to protect Illinois families and commerce.