California to Revoke 17,000 Commercial Driver's Licenses Amid Concerns

Thu Nov 13 2025 03:09:45 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

California is set to revoke 17,000 commercial driver's licenses issued to noncitizens, citing state law violations rather than immigration concerns. Governor Gavin Newsom defends the decision amidst criticism from federal officials.

California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver's licenses granted to immigrants, with Governor Gavin Newsom attributing this to state law violations rather than federal immigration issues raised by the Trump administration. Despite the lack of specifics, the decision follows heightened scrutiny over accidents involving illegal immigrant truck drivers. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the state for issuing the licenses, asserting that the revocations are an acknowledgment of prior missteps. Current licensing rules will make it nearly impossible for many immigrants to obtain such licenses in the future.

California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses given to immigrants after concerns were raised about the issuance of these licenses under the Trump administration. However, Governor Gavin Newsom stated that these revocations are related to violations of state law rather than federal immigration issues.

According to Newsom, the violations are unspecified but existed prior to the heightened scrutiny from the federal government, which followed multiple truck accidents linked to illegal immigrant drivers, including a fatal incident in Florida that resulted in three deaths.

The California Department of Transportation has not provided further details regarding the specific reasons behind these revocations. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commented that this action implies California had acted improperly, despite previously defending its licensing standards.

In light of the new licensing rules announced by Duffy in September, the requirements for obtaining a commercial driver’s license have become significantly stricter, limiting eligibility primarily to visa holders in three specific categories. The changes will primarily affect future applicants, with many current license holders retaining their licenses until renewal.

California's decision to revoke licenses comes amidst a larger debate over the regulation of commercial driver licensing among immigrants, raising questions about public safety and immigration enforcement.