California revoking 17,000 commercial driver's licences given to immigrants

November 13, 2025

California is revoking 17,000 commercial driver's licenses after a federal audit discovered they were issued with incorrect expiration dates that violated state law requiring licenses to expire when a holder's legal immigration status ends. The Trump administration has characterized these as licenses "illegally issued" to undocumented immigrants and is pushing for stricter verification requirements following a fatal August truck crash in Florida involving a driver without legal status. Governor Newsom's office contends the license holders had valid federal work authorizations but administrative errors led to improper expiration dates, while dismissing the federal government's actions as politically motivated.

Who is affected

17,000 commercial driver's license holders in California whose licenses are being revoked
Three people killed in the August Florida truck crash
An estimated 194,000 "non-domiciled" drivers nationally who may exit the freight market
Truck drivers and the commercial transportation industry in California (which has over 130,000 truck drivers)
Other states currently undergoing similar audits
A truck driver who brought a lawsuit against the new federal rules

What action is being taken

California is revoking 17,000 commercial driver's licenses (with 60-day expiration notices sent to holders)
The Department of Transportation is conducting audits of commercial driver's licenses in California and other states
Secretary Sean Duffy's team is continuing to force California to prove removal of undocumented immigrants from commercial driving positions

Why it matters

This matters because it affects a significant portion of California's commercial driving workforce in a state that handles major freight operations through the country's two largest ports and leads in agricultural production. The revocations and new federal restrictions could have substantial economic impacts on the freight and transportation industry, potentially removing nearly 200,000 drivers nationally from the market. The dispute also highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and state-level policies regarding work authorization and licensing for immigrants.

What's next

Other state audit reviews are expected to be released soon (following the end of the 43-day government shutdown)
A federal appeals court lawsuit regarding the new commercial driver's license rules is working its way through the courts
The Transportation Department will continue forcing California to verify removal of undocumented immigrants from commercial driving positions

Read full article from source: BBC