That means just 10,000 of the 200,000 immigrant drivers currently licensed nationwide would still qualify under the new policy. States are now required to verify immigration status using a federal database before issuing or renewing a CDL.
The rules are not retroactive, so most existing immigrant CDL holders will keep their licenses until renewal. However, the California drivers affected by the audit have been notified that their licenses will expire in 60 days.
Shutdown Delays Broader Review
Duffy said a government shutdown has delayed similar CDL audits in other states, but he vowed to continue the nationwide review. “My team will continue to force every state to prove they’ve removed illegal immigrants from behind the wheel of semitrucks and school buses,” he said.
National Implications
The CDL audit has sparked a broader political debate over immigration, labor, and safety in the trucking industry. Republican leaders are urging investigations into alleged “trucker licensing mills,” while critics accuse the administration of targeting immigrant workers during a driver shortage.
