A group of immigrant truckers has filed a lawsuit against California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), claiming the state is violating their rights by attempting to revoke their commercial driver's licenses. In recent months, California officials announced that approximately 21,000 truck drivers would face license cancellations due to their driver's permits expiring while they were not legally allowed to remain in the U.S., leading to serious economic consequences for these workers.
The decision follows a nationwide crackdown initiated during the Trump administration, which has involved threats from the federal government aimed at states issuing commercial licenses to immigrant drivers. In addition to California, other states like Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and New York are under scrutiny regarding their licensing procedures.
Represented by the Sikh Coalition and the Asian Law Caucus, the affected drivers argue that they have invested years into their careers as truckers and should not bear the burden of this federal policy shift. Munmeeth Kaur, legal director at the Sikh Coalition, stressed that these drivers deserve better treatment from the state.
As part of their plea, the groups are asking the Alameda County Superior Court to temporarily halt the DMV's revocation efforts while the case unfolds. The DMV has refrained from commenting on ongoing litigation, maintaining a silence amidst rising concerns about the implications for immigrant truck drivers, especially in light of recent accidents involving unauthorized drivers.
The increasing pressures on immigrant truckers highlight the intersections of immigration policy, labor rights, and economic stability for thousands of workers critical to California's freight industry.
