California has initiated the revocation of 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses following an audit that revealed these licenses were issued to immigrants no longer legally permitted to reside in the United States. The Department of Transportation disclosed that California officials had unlawfully granted these licenses to individuals deemed ‘dangerous foreign drivers.’ License holders have been notified that their permits will expire within 60 days. This action comes in the wake of a tragic incident in August, where a truck driver without legal status caused a fatal crash in Florida, prompting the Trump administration to intensify efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants from commercial driving roles. California Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the administration’s move as politically motivated, emphasizing that the affected drivers had valid federal work authorizations. However, media reports indicate that the licenses contained incorrect expiration dates, violating state law requiring them to expire concurrently with the holder’s legal status in the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has been vocal in criticizing California’s policies, described the situation as ‘the tip of the iceberg,’ vowing to ensure the removal of all undocumented immigrants from commercial driving positions. In September, Duffy introduced stringent new rules complicating the process for immigrants to obtain commercial driver’s licenses, including mandatory verification of immigration status and a maximum one-year validity period. While the transportation department estimated that 97% of non-domiciled drivers would exit the freight market, it downplayed the economic impact given the nation’s 3.8 million commercial drivers. A federal appeals court has temporarily halted these rules pending a lawsuit. California, home to over 130,000 truck drivers and the country’s largest ports, remains the only state to have completed a commercial driver’s license audit, with other states expected to follow suit soon.
California revoking 17,000 commercial driver’s licences given to immigrants
