Pennsylvania State Treasurer and Republican candidate for governor Stacy Garrity is calling for a full investigation into the issuance of a CDL to suspected terrorist Akhror Bozorov.

The 31-year-old Bozorov was wanted in his home country of Uzbekistan for belonging to a terrorist organization, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He is accused of distributing terrorist propaganda calling for jihad online and recruiting terrorists to join the jihad movement. 

The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) arrested him in Kansas on November 9, while he was working as a commercial truck driver with a commercial drivers’ license (CDL) issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Borozov was issued the CDL license from PennDOT in July 2025 after being granted work authorization in January 2024.

In late September, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) within Department of Transportation (DOT) amended the Federal regulations for State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) issuing commercial driving credentials to foreign-domiciled individuals. The changes were designed to security of the CDL issuance process and enhance the safety of commercial motor vehicle operations by revising to whom an SDLA may issue a non-domiciled CLP (Commercial Learner’s Permit) or CDL, what the requirements are for issuance, and when a non-domiciled CLP or CDL must be canceled or revoked.

“Not only was Akhror Bozorov – a wanted terrorist – released into the country by the Biden administration, but he was also given a commercial driver’s license by Governor Shapiro’s Pennsylvania,” said Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin. “This should go without saying, but terrorist illegal aliens should not be operating 18-wheelers on America’s highways. (President Joe) Biden and (former Homeland Security Director Alejandro) Mayorkas allowed countless terrorists to come into our country. President (Donald) Trump and Secretary (Kristi) Noem unleashed ICE to target these national security threats.”

Garrity seized upon the news and called for an investigation into the issuance of the CDL by PennDOT, calling out Gov. Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll. 

“The people of Pennsylvania need to know why a suspected terrorist was granted a CDL on Josh Shapiro’s watch,” said Garrity. “This is a fundamental breach of our national security and a full accounting for this failure must be opened. Governor Shapiro needs to fully investigate and answer for how the suspected terrorist was able to be granted a CDL, as well as review all licenses issued to ensure no other violent individuals slipped through the cracks of his Administration. 

“Governor Shapiro must hold anyone who is responsible for this failure accountable. The buck stops at the chief executive’s desk, and Josh Shapiro must answer why his administration allowed a suspected terrorist to drive and transport cargo freely,” concluded Garrity.

“If officials are concerned about this they should redirect their attention to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who manages the federal database that is checked before any Pennsylvania licenses are issued to non-citizens,” said Rosie Lapowsky, the Governor’s press secretary.

PennDOT spokeswoman Alexis Campbell said that the Department followed the rule of law.

“Whenever non-citizen applicants apply for a CDL in Pennsylvania, PennDOT reviews the necessary immigration and naturalization documents and completes the federal process for verifying lawful presence, confirming the non-citizen’s legal status in real-time using the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE database before issuing a license. If the applicant clears the federal SAVE process, which confirms the applicant is residing in the U.S. under legal status, and successfully meets all other criteria, a license is issued. PennDOT completes these two checks to confirm legal status with the federal government every time it issues a license to a non-citizen, and has followed this process without exception in 2025.”