Immigrant Truck Drivers Sue California Over CDL Revocation Plans
A group of immigrant truck drivers is taking legal action against California authorities regarding the state’s intent to revoke their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). This comes as the state, led by Democrats, faces criticism for allegedly issuing CDs to foreign drivers unlawfully.
The workers are suing the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A report disclosed that approximately 17,000 truck drivers were affected, but that number has since risen to 21,000. The drivers have been notified that their licenses may be revoked because their expiration dates lapsed while they were legally residing in the U.S.
The Sikh Coalition, alongside the Asian Law Caucus, is spearheading a class action lawsuit. In a press release, they expressed concern over the DMV’s decision to revoke more than 20,000 non-domicile CDLs due to minor administrative issues. This lawsuit is backed by five CDL holders who claim their lives and rights have been unjustly impacted.
Since early November, the DMV began sending notices regarding the revocation of licenses tied to insignificant paperwork discrepancies, such as mismatched expiration dates for CDLs and work permits. This move was reportedly prompted by federal government pressure, yet no resolution options have been provided to these drivers. Critics argue that this policy discriminates against them based on immigration status.
Previously, reports indicated that over 7,000 truck drivers were removed from U.S. roads following the introduction of English proficiency requirements by Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy.
Duffy later stated that his audits found California had improperly issued thousands of CDLs to foreign truck drivers under directives from Governor Gavin Newsom. He indicated that 17,000 drivers had been warned their licenses did not comply with federal standards and would be expiring in 60 days.
During an interview with Breitbart News, Duffy accused Newsom of neglecting longstanding federal English proficiency regulations, a failure that resulted in California losing over $40 million in federal funding.
Additionally, reports earlier indicated that California emerged as a significant hub for illegal CDL licenses. A recent ICE operation, dubbed Operation Highway Sentinel, led to the arrest of 101 undocumented truck drivers from various countries, including India, Mexico, Ukraine, and Venezuela, among others.
