Thousands of immigrant truck drivers in California are facing sudden job losses after the state canceled their commercial driver’s licenses, leaving families and trucking companies in crisis during the busy holiday season.
17,000 Immigrant Drivers Lose Licenses Amid Federal Pressure
In November, California notified nearly 17,000 commercial drivers — many of them asylum seekers and DACA recipients — that their licenses would be canceled by Jan. 6. These drivers held valid federal work permits and depended on trucking as their main source of income.
The cancellations happened after state records showed that some drivers’ federal work permits appeared to expire before their California-issued licenses. However, in many cases, the work permits had already been extended or renewed — information that was not updated in the DMV system.
DMV Admits System Error, Plans to Re-Issue Licenses
The California Department of Motor Vehicles now says the problem was caused by a technical error. According to a letter sent by DMV Director Steve Gordon to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the state will begin re-issuing licenses to affected drivers this week.
The DMV acknowledged that its system failed to automatically update work permit extensions, leading to incorrect license expiration calculations.
Why the Mistake Happened
Under California law, a commercial driver’s license must expire on or before the date a person’s work authorization expires. But if a work permit is renewed after the license is issued, the DMV system does not update that information automatically.
As a result, thousands of drivers were flagged incorrectly — even though they were legally allowed to work and drive.
Immigrant Drivers Caught Between State and Federal Politics
While California has often fought the Trump administration over immigration enforcement, this situation is different. In this case, the state acted under pressure from federal officials who are targeting immigrant commercial drivers.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has threatened to withhold more than $150 million in federal funding from California. His department has also increased audits and scrutiny of immigrant drivers.
Federal Rules Under Court Review
The Trump administration has attempted to introduce new federal rules that would block asylum seekers, DACA recipients, and other immigrants with temporary status from holding commercial licenses at all. A federal court has temporarily stopped those rules from taking effect.
Drivers and Companies Fear Financial Collapse
For drivers like Manjeet Singh, a Punjabi asylum seeker in Stockton, the situation is devastating. Singh has a valid work permit until 2028, but his commercial license was issued to expire in 2029 — an error made by the DMV.
“That’s not my fault,” Singh said. “The DMV did that.”
Singh owns three trucks, pays a $4,500 monthly mortgage, and supports his family entirely through trucking. Losing his license would mean losing everything.
Trucking Companies Also at Risk
At Diamond Transportation Logistics in Stockton, owners say they could lose a significant portion of their workforce. Punjabi immigrants make up a large part of California’s trucking industry, especially in the Central Valley.
“They’re good drivers,” said company co-owner Dave Atwal. “They’ve done nothing wrong.”
Panic Spreads Through Immigrant Trucking Community
The license notices have caused fear and confusion. Some drivers have quit their jobs, sold their trucks, or rushed to work extra hours before their licenses expire.
Others reported being told by the DMV that their licenses would only be renewed if they returned with a Green Card, even though federal law allows them to work with valid permits.
ICE Checks Add to Fear
Drivers also say they are avoiding routes outside California due to fears of immigration enforcement at weigh stations and truck stops, especially in southern states.
The State’s Proposed Fix
California says it is rolling out a new software system that will correctly match license expiration dates with work permit expiration dates automatically.
However, the state also revealed that an additional few thousand drivers will receive new 60-day cancellation notices, bringing the total number of impacted drivers to more than 20,000.
Uncertain Future as Federal Pressure Continues
Despite California’s efforts to fix the problem, it remains unclear how the Trump administration will respond. Federal officials have already launched similar audits in New York and Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Sikh temples in Stockton have begun offering free English classes to help drivers prepare for on-the-spot language proficiency tests.
Conclusion
California’s immigrant truck drivers have become unintended victims of a growing political fight between the state and the Trump administration. While the DMV works to correct its errors, thousands of drivers remain uncertain about their future — risking jobs, homes, and livelihoods in an industry that keeps California’s economy moving.
