California Revokes Licenses Amid Controversy Over Immigrant Drivers

Thu Nov 13 2025 02:08:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a decisive move, California is set to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants. This comes after federal scrutiny regarding the legality of these licenses post a series of fatal accidents involving immigrant drivers.

California's decision to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses for immigrants has sparked controversy. Governor Gavin Newsom states the revocations are due to state law violations, while U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claims this reveals prior missteps by the state. The revocations follow heightened scrutiny after fatal crashes involving illegal drivers, leading to new federal restrictions on licensing immigrants. Newsom's office insists that the affected drivers possessed valid work authorizations when their licenses were issued.

California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses given to immigrants after the Trump administration raised concerns about people in the country illegally receiving licenses to drive a semitruck or a bus. But Gov. Gavin Newsom clarified that the revocations are not directly linked to immigration issues.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the reasons for these decisions, Newsom indicated they relate to violations of state law, without providing additional details. This announcement follows scrutiny fueled by a nationwide audit of commercial licenses initiated after a tragic incident in Florida where an unauthorized driver caused a fatal crash.

The Biden administration has taken a stance against states issuing licenses to noncitizens without stringent checks. In light of high-profile accidents linked to immigrant drivers, including deadly crashes in California, Texas, and Alabama, the conversation surrounding licensure protocols for immigrants is intensifying.

Transportation Secretary Duffy has argued California's move indicates a recognition of prior mistakes in issuing these licenses, given past defenses of the state's standards. In a further escalation, Duffy has threatened to withdraw federal funds connected to the state's handling of immigrant driver licensing.

Newsom’s office stands firm on the legality of the licenses issued, highlighting that all affected drivers had valid work authorizations from federal authorities. They further accused Duffy of misrepresenting the facts in an attempt to undermine the state’s handling of immigration and transportation issues.

The forthcoming amendments to the licensing process would imply that only a small subset of visa holders would now qualify for a commercial driver’s license, raising concerns about access for immigrant workers previously permitted to drive commercially.

The debate continues as advocates call for transparency and fair treatment of immigrant workers in the California transportation landscape, stressing the need for a balanced approach considering both public safety and the rights of lawful workers.