California Revokes 17,000 CDL Licenses Amid Immigration Status Audit

California officials have announced the revocation of 17,000 commercial driver’s licences (CDLs) after a state audit revealed that thousands were issued to individuals no longer legally authorized to work in the United States. The Department of Transportation confirmed that the licences will expire within 60 days, affecting drivers across the state.

The revocation comes amid heightened federal scrutiny following a tragic August incident in Florida, where a truck driver not legally in the U.S. caused a crash that killed three people. The Trump administration has since intensified efforts to prevent undocumented immigrants from obtaining commercial driving credentials.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, highlighting the need for California to ensure that illegal drivers are removed from roads, particularly in sectors such as freight and school transportation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, however, criticized the federal claims, asserting that the affected drivers held valid work authorizations. “Once again, the Sean ‘Road Rules’ Duffy fails to share the truth,” said Newsom’s spokesman Brandon Richards, emphasizing that the federal official’s statements misrepresent the situation.

The audit revealed that the revoked licences had incorrect expiration dates and violated California law, which requires licences to expire on or before the driver’s legal status in the country ends. Newsom’s office pointed out that federal rules introduced in September—requiring annual licence renewals and immigration status verification—were not in effect when the 17,000 licences were issued.

While California is the first state to complete such an audit, other states are expected to release their findings soon, delayed by the recent 43-day U.S. government shutdown. California hosts over 130,000 truck drivers, serving major ports and agricultural hubs, second only to Texas in driver population.

The decision has ignited a debate on road safety, immigration policy, and economic impact, with federal authorities warning that stricter CDL regulations could remove up to 97% of non-domiciled drivers from the freight market in coming years, though the overall economic effect is expected to be limited.

The revocations are expected to trigger legal challenges, as a federal appeals court recently paused new rules affecting immigrant commercial drivers while lawsuits proceed.