California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants after state officials discovered that the licenses extended beyond the drivers’ legally authorized stay in the U.S. The announcement follows pressure from the Trump administration, which criticized states for granting licenses to undocumented or improperly authorized workers, citing safety concerns after a deadly crash in Florida involving an unauthorized driver.
Reason for License Revocations
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the revocation is an admission that the state acted improperly, despite previously defending its licensing standards. California launched a review of commercial driver’s licenses following federal concerns that licenses must expire on or before a person’s legal U.S. status ends, as reported to the DMV.
Federal and State Dispute
Duffy accused Governor Gavin Newsom of misleading the public and stated his team will continue to ensure all improperly issued licenses are revoked. In response, Newsom’s office clarified that all affected drivers had valid federal work authorizations and accused Duffy of spreading “easily disproven falsehoods.”
Impact on Safety and Funding
The revocation follows incidents highlighting the dangers of improperly authorized drivers, including fatal crashes in California, Texas, and Alabama. Duffy previously withheld $40 million in federal funding from California for not enforcing English language requirements for truckers and warned he could take an additional $160 million if the state fails to address the issue.
New Federal Rules for Immigrant Truckers
In September, Duffy introduced new restrictions making it much harder for immigrants to obtain commercial driver’s licenses. Under the new rules, only immigrants on H-2a, H-2b, or E-2 visas will qualify. Licenses will be valid up to one year or until the visa expires. These rules will not apply retroactively, allowing 190,000 current license holders to retain their credentials until renewal.
Audit Findings
Duffy reported that one-quarter of a sample of 145 California licenses should not have been issued, including four cases where licenses remained valid after the driver’s work permit had expired. Notices have now been sent to the 17,000 drivers affected, informing them their licenses will expire in 60 days.
State Defense
California maintains it followed federal guidance from the Department of Homeland Security when issuing licenses to noncitizens. The state asserts the revocations are part of compliance with federal law and not an admission of wrongdoing.
Next Steps
Affected drivers are advised to monitor notices from the DMV and ensure they maintain valid work authorization. California continues to coordinate with federal authorities to align state licensing practices with immigration law and safety standards.