Federal Crackdown on Immigrant Truck Driver Licenses Expands to Eight States

Sat Dec 13 2025 21:05:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Transportation Department has initiated a crackdown on commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants amid concerns over safety and licensing violations, affecting states like California, Pennsylvania, New York, and more.

Federal investigations have revealed widespread issues with commercial driver licenses issued to immigrants across eight states. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has threatened to withhold federal funds unless these states rectify the identified problems. Recent crashes involving unauthorized immigrants have brought attention to these concerns, leading to a nationwide review.

The federal government is tightening regulations on commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for immigrants, citing safety concerns following several tragic crashes. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's actions have prompted significant scrutiny across eight states, including California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and New York, where investigations revealed systemic issues with licensing procedures.

In states such as California, where the crackdown began, Duffy has threatened to withdraw millions in federal funds due to the issuance of licenses that remained valid despite the expiration of an immigrant's legal status. Problems were also flagged in states including Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington, suggesting a broader issue that could affect federal funding.

These actions gained momentum in the wake of several catastrophic incidents involving unauthorized immigrant drivers, including a deadly August crash in Florida that resulted in three fatalities and a similar incident in California in October. Duffy emphasizes the need for stricter licensing protocols and has proposed new regulations aimed at limiting noncitizen eligibility for commercial driving.

Despite the push for new regulations, a court recently placed a hold on these proposed rules, causing further tension between state governments and federal authorities. The Department of Transportation has mandated that states audit their CDL programs thoroughly and revoke any licenses that were improperly issued.

In New York, investigations found that over half of the reviewed licenses were issued incorrectly, with many not verifying the immigration status of applicants. Duffy has urged immediate action to rectify these findings, stating that New York must conduct a comprehensive audit to prevent further violations.

State officials in California and other affected states have defended their practices, claiming they comply with federal regulations. Nonetheless, ongoing audits and reviews continue to uncover discrepancies, raising questions about the safety implications of immigrant truck drivers on the nation’s roads.