Roughly 200,000 immigrant truck drivers in the United States are set to lose their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) this week after a new Trump administration rule went into effect Monday to keep illegal immigrants off the roads.
Under the rule, non-citizens, including asylum seekers, refugees, and recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), will no longer be eligible to obtain CDLs, even if they are legally authorized to work in the United States. Those who already hold licenses will not be able to renew them as they expire. Federal data indicates that about 200,000 immigrants currently hold CDLs, accounting for roughly 5 percent of all commercial truck drivers nationwide.
According to The Washington Post, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the move is aimed at addressing safety concerns that have come under increasing scrutiny following a series of high-profile crashes involving immigrant truck drivers. “For far too long, America has allowed dangerous foreign drivers to abuse our truck licensing systems, wreaking havoc on our roadways,” Duffy said when announcing the rule.
The policy shift comes after months of intensified federal action targeting immigrant truckers. The Department of Transportation has ramped up enforcement of English-language proficiency requirements during roadside inspections, resulting in thousands of drivers losing their ability to operate commercially. Federal regulators have also revoked the accreditation of nearly 3,000 driver training centers that failed to meet national standards.
