In brief
Following three deadly crashes, the U.S. Transportation Department is auditing and tightening the eligibility criteria for commercial driver’s licenses issued to non-citizens. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted serious compliance issues in several states, including California, which faces potential federal funding cuts for failing to meet standards. The new rules bar many non-citizens from obtaining licenses and aim to enhance public safety, especially after high-profile incidents raised concerns about highway safety and immigration policies.
The Transportation Department has announced an immediate tightening of requirements for non-citizens seeking commercial drivers licenses, following three fatal collisions this year attributed to immigrant truck drivers who obtained their licenses improperly.
The move comes on the heels of a nationwide audit initiated following a tragic U-turn crash in Florida, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals. Investigators revealed that the truck driver involved was in the U.S. illegally. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also indicated that similar fatal crashes occurred in Texas and Alabama.
In a bid to ensure compliance, Duffy stated that there would be a revocation of $160 million in federal funding for California unless the state audits its program within 30 days. Notably, the audit revealed that one in four of the reviewed commercial driver’s licenses for non-citizens issued since June were found to be incorrectly issued according to existing regulations. States such as Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington also showed discrepancies in their licensing records.
“We have a government system designed to keep American families safe on the roads, but that system has been compromised,” Duffy warned during a recent press conference.
The audit uncovered that approximately 190,000 of the estimated 200,000 non-citizens currently holding commercial licenses may have received them inappropriately. However, the rules do not apply retroactively, meaning those drivers will not lose their existing licenses. Moving forward, only drivers with H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visas will qualify for a commercial driver’s license. Simply possessing an employment authorization document will no longer suffice.
Past incidents, particularly a fatal accident involving a Sikh truck driver, have stirred political debates, drawing criticism from President Trump and prominent California officials. The fallout sparked discussions on immigration policy and road safety, pitting state leaders against federal authorities in a complex dialogue about licensing protocols and public safety.
As a result of the Transportation Department's findings, all states are required to halt the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses to non-citizens until they align with the new regulations.
