California immigrant truckers face license crisis as new federal rules block renewals

"Moving forward, unqualified foreign drivers will be unable to get a license to operate an 80,000-pound big rig. Under President Trump's leadership, we are putting the safety of the driving public first."

"Federal regulators said the licenses were illegally issued because they remained valid past a work permit's expiration date. State officials tried to correct the mistake but were not allowed to do so by federal regulators."

"Immigrant rights groups said the new federal guidelines create severe economic hardship for immigrant commercial drivers in California, who are lawfully qualified to work but cannot obtain licenses, exacerbating a truck driver shortage."

Federal regulators implemented new guidelines limiting nondomiciled commercial driver's licenses to specific visa holders, affecting approximately 200,000 drivers nationwide. California was ordered to cancel roughly 13,000 such licenses due to a clerical error where licenses remained valid beyond work permit expiration dates. The new rules require states to verify immigration status through federal portals and no longer accept work permits as proof of eligibility. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy stated the changes aim to improve roadway safety. Immigrant rights groups contend the regulations create economic hardship for lawfully qualified immigrant drivers, worsen truck driver shortages, and perpetuate anti-immigrant stereotypes by suggesting all immigrant drivers are unqualified or dangerous.

Read at Los Angeles Times