SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — Thousands of immigrant truck drivers in California are losing their commercial driver’s licenses after a federal crackdown, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The move could disrupt the trucking workforce and threaten the income of many families who depend on commercial driving jobs.
State officials say the federal government now requires the DMV to cancel about 13,000 non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, also known as CDLs. These licenses were issued to drivers who are legally present in the United States but do not have U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status. The decision has created uncertainty for immigrant truck drivers across California. Many drivers say the cancellations could leave them without work.
The California DMV said federal authorities ordered the state to revoke thousands of commercial licenses. The affected drivers include people with temporary legal status, such as asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, and holders of Temporary Protected Status.
Officials define non-domiciled drivers as individuals who are legally present in the country but do not hold permanent resident status. Many of them work in industries that depend heavily on commercial transportation.
The DMV said not every non-domiciled driver will lose their license. Drivers affected by the order should have already received a cancellation notice. State officials began canceling some licenses last year after federal authorities raised concerns about how long the licenses remained valid.
A California court stepped in this week to address part of the problem. The Superior Court of California in Alameda County ordered the DMV to fix an issue affecting thousands of drivers whose licenses were scheduled to expire on March 6. The ruling followed a class-action lawsuit filed by several advocacy groups. The lawsuit argued that the DMV’s actions could unfairly block many drivers from working.
The judge ordered the DMV to create a process that prevents wrongful cancellations. The court also directed the agency to allow drivers to quickly reapply if their licenses get revoked. However, the ruling does not stop all cancellations. Some drivers may still lose their commercial licenses while the state sets up the new process.
Federal officials launched an audit after two deadly crashes in California last year. Both incidents involved immigrant truck drivers with commercial licenses. The crashes drew national attention and sparked criticism from federal officials. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration later reviewed licensing records. The agency found cases where commercial licenses remained valid longer than the driver’s work authorization.
Federal law requires a commercial driver’s license to expire when the driver’s legal work authorization ends. Federal officials warned that states must follow this rule. They also warned California that the state could lose millions of dollars in federal highway funding if it failed to revoke the licenses.
California officials say the state followed the law when it issued the licenses. The DMV said all drivers who received non-domiciled CDLs had valid federal work authorization at the time. The agency also accused the federal government of spreading misleading information about immigrant truck drivers. State officials said they previously tried to issue corrected licenses to some drivers. Federal authorities blocked those efforts.
DMV Director Steve Gordon criticized the federal action. He said the policy removes qualified commercial drivers from the workforce even though they meet language and safety requirements. State leaders argue the decision could worsen driver shortages in the trucking industry.
For many drivers, the cancellation means immediate financial hardship. Truck driving often provides the main income for immigrant families. Some drivers say even a short gap without a license could cause serious problems. Many depend on weekly paychecks to cover rent, food, and other basic expenses. One driver, Amarjit Singh, told a local television station that the cancellation has already created stress for his family. He said he now worries about how he will pay his bills.
Drivers whose commercial licenses are revoked can still apply for a standard Class C California driver’s license. This license allows them to drive passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks. However, it does not permit commercial trucking.
The court order may provide limited relief. But many drivers still face uncertainty as state officials build a new system to handle applications and appeals. Industry experts warn that the crackdown could affect the broader trucking sector. California depends heavily on commercial drivers to move goods through ports, warehouses, and highways.
For now, thousands of immigrant truck drivers must wait for further guidance. Many hope state and federal officials will find a solution that allows them to return to work and support their families.
