LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Joseph Bellino on Thursday sent a letter to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson asking her how a man who was in the country illegally, recently charged with causing the deaths of two women in a violent crash in Macomb County, was apparently issued a valid Michigan commercial driver’s license (CDL).
“Michigan law requires an individual be ‘legally present’ to be issued a standard driver’s license, and even more stringent background checks are required for a CDL,” said Bellino, R-Monroe. “It’s extremely alarming to think Secretary Benson may be unlawfully issuing licenses to illegal immigrants.”
Jose Medina-Hernandez has been charged with two counts of Moving Violation Causing Death resulting from a traffic incident in Shelby Township on June 6 that caused the deaths of a mother and daughter.
Bellino’s letter says the “Shelby Township Police Chief has confirmed that Mr. Medina-Hernandez has no legal status in our country” and “media reports indicate the suspect was driving with a valid Michigan commercial driver’s license.”
“I am writing today to formally request that you confirm whether your office issued Mr. Medina-Hernandez a CDL, and if so, explain how he obtained it if he is in our state illegally,” Bellino wrote in the letter.
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