The U.S. Transportation Department has introduced stringent eligibility criteria for non-citizens looking to obtain commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), emphasizing road safety and addressing concerns over illegal immigration. Central to these new rules is the requirement that noncitizens obtain an employment-based visa to qualify for non-domiciled CDLs, alongside a mandatory federal immigration status check utilizing the SAVE system. These measures were unveiled following an exhaustive audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which identified widespread noncompliance among multiple states.
According to the FMCSA, the audit revealed significant lapses in oversight and compliance, with California being the most egregious example. The department highlighted that CDLs were issued to drivers who were ineligible or whose licenses were valid past the expiration of their lawful presence in the U.S. These issues were attributed to systemic problems such as insufficient training, inadequate oversight, and software errors. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in a statement, expressed his dismay at the findings, stating that they should ‘disturb and anger every American.’
Duffy further emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that licenses for operating large trucks, which weigh over 80,000 pounds, are being granted to ‘dangerous foreign drivers’ often without proper authorization. He pledged to ‘prevent unsafe foreign drivers from renewing their licenses and hold states accountable to immediately invalidate improperly issued licenses.’ Additionally, he warned that California’s negligence could lead to the loss of nearly $160 million in federal funding if the state fails to comply within 30 days. California, however, was not the only target, as Duffy called on all governors to ensure their non-domiciled CDL issuing systems are thoroughly revised to prevent future incidents.
Recent events have intensified this scrutiny. A month prior, an illegal immigrant trucker who had obtained a limited-term CDL from California in 2024 was implicated in a fatal crash in Florida. Harjinder Singh, the driver, is currently facing three counts of vehicular homicide following the incident. Fox News Digital reported that attempts to contact California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office for a statement were unsuccessful. The tragic event underscores the high stakes and urgency surrounding the Department’s crackdown, with safety on roads being the primary concern.