California Takes Steps to Revoke 17,000 Commercial Driver's Licenses Issued to Immigrants Amid Concerns Over Safety and Compliance.
In a move aimed at strengthening safety standards in the trucking industry, the state of California plans to revoke approximately 17,000 commercial driver's licenses issued to immigrants. The decision comes after the Trump administration raised concerns about individuals without proper immigration status operating large vehicles, which can pose significant risks to public safety.
According to Governor Gavin Newsom's office, the revocations are not directly related to immigration status but rather a result of violations of state law. However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy disputes this claim, stating that California is being forced to comply with federal regulations and admitting that the state had acted improperly in issuing licenses to noncitizens.
The decision follows a nationwide review of commercial driver's licenses, which led to tightened rules and restrictions on immigrant eligibility for these licenses. The new standards require only specific classes of visa holders – H-2a, H-2b, or E-2 visas – to qualify for these licenses, with the federal government verifying an applicant's immigration status in a database.
The move is seen as a significant step towards enhancing safety and enforcing regulations, but it has also sparked controversy. The governor's office maintains that all drivers with revoked licenses had valid work authorizations from the federal government, while Duffy argues that California's actions demonstrate its lack of compliance with existing standards.
As part of the new rules, only 10,000 out of 200,000 noncitizens currently holding commercial licenses would be eligible for renewal under the new stricter regulations. Drivers issued these licenses before the new requirements came into effect will retain their permits until they come up for renewal in 60 days.
The revocation decision is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate over immigration and licensing standards in the trucking industry. As California takes steps to address concerns about safety and compliance, the move has implications for the broader transportation sector and the complex issues surrounding driver eligibility.
In a move aimed at strengthening safety standards in the trucking industry, the state of California plans to revoke approximately 17,000 commercial driver's licenses issued to immigrants. The decision comes after the Trump administration raised concerns about individuals without proper immigration status operating large vehicles, which can pose significant risks to public safety.
According to Governor Gavin Newsom's office, the revocations are not directly related to immigration status but rather a result of violations of state law. However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy disputes this claim, stating that California is being forced to comply with federal regulations and admitting that the state had acted improperly in issuing licenses to noncitizens.
The decision follows a nationwide review of commercial driver's licenses, which led to tightened rules and restrictions on immigrant eligibility for these licenses. The new standards require only specific classes of visa holders – H-2a, H-2b, or E-2 visas – to qualify for these licenses, with the federal government verifying an applicant's immigration status in a database.
The move is seen as a significant step towards enhancing safety and enforcing regulations, but it has also sparked controversy. The governor's office maintains that all drivers with revoked licenses had valid work authorizations from the federal government, while Duffy argues that California's actions demonstrate its lack of compliance with existing standards.
As part of the new rules, only 10,000 out of 200,000 noncitizens currently holding commercial licenses would be eligible for renewal under the new stricter regulations. Drivers issued these licenses before the new requirements came into effect will retain their permits until they come up for renewal in 60 days.
The revocation decision is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate over immigration and licensing standards in the trucking industry. As California takes steps to address concerns about safety and compliance, the move has implications for the broader transportation sector and the complex issues surrounding driver eligibility.
this makes me uneasy like they're targeting people just 'cause of their status... what's the difference between having a valid work authorization and not having one? shouldn't that be enough? 
also, what about all those immigrant drivers who've been working for years without any issues? are they just going to lose everything because of some paperwork error? 
this whole thing feels like it's based on assumptions rather than facts...
This is so unfair! If they broke a rule, shouldn't they just get a warning or something? Revoking licenses from 17k people is kinda harsh. I mean, they might've had valid work permits and everything... 
Why can't they just fix the problem instead of taking away their livelihoods? And what's with all these classes of visas - it's like they're speaking a different language or something! 
. i get that safety is important but this feels like an overreach of state power 
. plus, what about the employers who relied on these immigrant drivers? aren't they affected too? 
. it's all so complicated 
.
. I mean, who needs diversity in the workforce, right? If we're being super strict on safety and compliance, then maybe some immigrants just aren't cut out for driving a big rig. I'm not saying it's an issue or anything... but wouldn't you want to know that your food is being delivered by someone with actual citizenship status? 
i feel bad for those 17k ppl who lost their licenses they got them legit from the gov lol california is like "hey we're good on our own" 
can't say i'm surprised tho gotta stay safe tho 
i feel bad for them, gotta navigate all that paperwork and bureaucracy...anyway, guess that's one way to make the trucking industry safer 
come on cali u cant just revoke ppl licenses like thats how it works 
i mean i get safety first but revoking 17000 licenses is crazy thats a lot of good people losin there jobs & livelihoods 
what about the ppl who had valid work authorizations from the feds lol governor newsom u gotta do better than this 
... I mean, I love trying new foods, but have you ever noticed how hard it is to find a decent vegan option out there? 
I swear, some places think it's just about throwing some tofu in a bowl and calling it a day... no, give me that one truck that serves the most epic vegan "cheese" quesadillas 
, now we're talkin'!
california should just focus on making sure these drivers are safe on the road, not trying to make a point about immigration status. and what's with all the red tape? like, can't we just simplify things and get back to driving without all this drama 
what's going on here? are people with valid work authorizations being unfairly targeted?
or is it just about following federal regulations?