California to Revoke 17,000 Commercial Driver’s Licences Issued to Immigrants

California officials plan to revoke 17,000 commercial driving licences issued to immigrants after finding that many were set to expire after the holders’ legal residency had ended.

The decision follows pressure from the Trump administration, which accused the state of improperly licensing individuals without a valid immigration status. It comes amid heightened scrutiny of immigrant drivers after several fatal crashes, including one in Florida in August involving a truck operator without legal authorisation. 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said California’s move confirmed federal claims of wrongdoing, promising continued action to remove “every illegal immigrant from behind the wheel of semitrucks and school buses.” Governor Gavin Newsom’s office rejected the allegations, stating that all affected drivers held valid federal work permits when their licences were issued. 

Officials said the revocations were required under state law, which mandates that commercial licences expire when a person’s authorised stay in the country ends. Newsom’s spokesperson, Brandon Richards, accused Duffy of spreading “falsehoods” for political purposes.

The dispute reflects ongoing tension between state and federal authorities over immigration and labour policy. California maintains that its licensing system aligns with Department of Homeland Security guidance, but a recent federal audit found that about a quarter of the licences reviewed should not have been granted, citing cases where work authorisations had expired years earlier.

The controversy follows new federal rules introduced in September that sharply limit which immigrants can hold commercial licences. Under the revised standards, only those on H-2A, H-2B or E-2 visas may qualify. States must now verify immigration status through federal databases, and licenses may not exceed one year or the visa’s duration. Of the roughly 200,000 non-citizens currently licensed to drive commercial vehicles nationwide, only about 10,000 meet the new criteria.

California is the first state to face penalties under the federal review. Duffy has already withheld $40 million in funding, citing the state’s failure to enforce English-language testing for drivers, and has warned that another $160 million could be withdrawn if compliance is not achieved. Reviews in other states have been delayed by the government shutdown, but the Transportation Department has urged them to tighten their standards in line with federal rules.