(CALIFORNIA) California moved to cancel 17,000 non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses this fall after a federal audit and new emergency rules from Washington, setting off a fierce fight between Governor Gavin Newsom and the Trump administration over who sets the terms for immigrant drivers working on the nation’s roads. Notices began going out after September 26, 2025, and affected drivers were told their licenses would expire within 60 days, a sweeping revocation that reaches asylum seekers and others with temporary legal status across the United States 🇺🇸.
What the federal rule requires and why it changed
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an emergency rule in September that tightened who can hold non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses in California and other states.
Key elements of the emergency rule:
– Requires non‑citizens to have an employment‑based visa.
– Mandates federal immigration checks through the SAVE system.
– Bars asylum seekers from qualifying for non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses.
An FMCSA audit concluded that roughly one in four sampled non‑domiciled licenses in California did not meet the new standard. California was given 30 days from September 26, 2025 to audit its files and pull noncompliant licenses.
Federal officials’ position
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy framed the change as a public safety fix and a legal correction.
- He accused California of “illegally issuing” commercial driver’s licenses.
- He pointed to a fatal truck crash in Florida involving a California‑licensed immigrant driver, Jashanpreet Singh, who was an asylum seeker, saying Singh would not have been eligible under the emergency rule.
- Duffy said, “We cannot wait for the next tragedy to act,” arguing the revocation is necessary to enforce federal law and protect motorists.
California’s response and legal arguments
Governor Newsom’s office fired back:
- California says it issued licenses under prior federal guidance and that the drivers were legally present with federal work authorization at the time.
- State aides say the FMCSA applied new standards retroactively and then faulted the state for following earlier, Department of Homeland Security‑approved guidance.
- A spokesperson said, “California followed the rules that were in place,” accusing Secretary Duffy of making false claims and turning a compliance review into a political spectacle.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the clash raises core questions about how federal agencies roll out and enforce sudden policy shifts that can upend livelihoods.
Impact on drivers, employers, and the supply chain
The emergency rule touches a workforce whose jobs depend on credentials that can be lost overnight.
- Advocacy groups say thousands of drivers had passed skills tests, held clean records, and showed federal work permits when they obtained non‑domiciled CDLs.
- Many now face job loss as freight companies pull them off routes and insurers flag their files.
- Driver hotlines report calls from people who bought trucks on loans and now fear defaulting by winter.
Consequences being reported:
– Carriers face immediate route shortages and higher costs as they reassign drivers or recruit replacements who meet the new criteria.
– Democrats in the state legislature called the revocation “punitive”, arguing it targets workers who followed the process laid out at the time.
– Industry groups warn of a chilling effect on recruiting, with potential applicants opting for other jobs.
The competing rationales
Republicans and federal officials argue:
– States must align with current federal standards.
– Uniform vetting protects the public, with SAVE checks and employment‑based visas serving as real‑time verification.
– Asylum seekers are ineligible by design; the previous approach created a loophole that needed to be closed.
California maintains:
– The state was following earlier Department of Transportation and DHS guidance when licenses were issued.
– The FMCSA’s emergency rule was applied retroactively and unfairly.
Timeline and compliance dispute
The timeline is central to the disagreement:
- California issued licenses under earlier guidance that did not outright ban asylum seekers.
- FMCSA issued an emergency rule effective immediately on September 26, 2025.
- FMCSA audited California and gave the state 30 days to correct noncompliant records.
- Notices to affected drivers began after September 26, 2025, giving drivers 60 days from notice before expiration.
State officials say they complied with the audit order while contesting the retroactive nature of the changes. Federal officials say the audit simply identified records that failed to meet the emergency standard.
Practical options for affected drivers
The letters to drivers are blunt: the licenses “no longer meet federal requirements” and will expire within 60 days of notice. Options are limited:
- Some may switch to non‑commercial licenses, but those typically pay less.
- Others could attempt to change immigration status to an employment‑based visa, but that is often not feasible.
- The emergency rule explicitly requires non‑citizen CDL holders to show an employment‑based visa and pass federal status checks, effectively barring many asylum seekers and other temporary protections.
Immigration lawyers report frequent calls asking whether a pending asylum case can be converted to a work visa; in most cases, it cannot.
Administrative and legal process underway
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles has not publicly released a full breakdown of the categories that make up the 17,000 flagged licenses. Officials say they are:
- Conducting the required audit.
- Processing cancellations under protest.
- Asserting that FMCSA deviated from prior guidance.
Federal officials point to the emergency rule’s immediate effect and the audit’s findings as justification for the compliance actions.
Sectoral fallout and long‑term questions
Immediate operational changes:
– Trucking companies rewrite rosters.
– Insurers demand proof a driver’s CDL meets the new standard.
– Shippers adjust schedules as carriers swap in drivers who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or hold employment‑based visas.
Longer‑term questions include:
– Whether the emergency rule will stand as written.
– How other states will respond if their audits uncover similar gaps.
– Whether sudden federal policy shifts will reshape recruitment, training, and the composition of the trucking workforce.
For thousands of immigrant drivers, the outcome will decide whether they can keep their careers—or park their rigs for good.
Where to get official guidance
The U.S. Department of Transportation says it will continue monitoring state compliance. For official information on CDL rules and non‑domiciled licensing, the agency directs the public to the FMCSA’s commercial driver resources at FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Program.
California officials say they will keep pressing the argument that the audit applied new rules retroactively. The Trump administration says public safety and uniform standards must come first. The stakes remain high for drivers, companies, lawmakers, and communities that rely on the nation’s freight network.
This Article in a Nutshell
California moved to revoke 17,000 non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses after an FMCSA emergency rule (effective September 26, 2025) required employment‑based visas and SAVE checks, and barred asylum seekers. The federal audit found about one in four sampled licenses noncompliant. California says it followed prior federal guidance and argues the new standard is retroactive. Notices gave affected drivers 60 days to lose driving privileges, prompting legal challenges, industry disruption, and concerns about workforce and supply‑chain impacts.
