California DMV Ordered to Cancel Driver Licenses

The FMCSA ordered the California DMV to revoke approximately 17,000 non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses after a federal review revealed widespread failures in the state's CDL program. These failures included inadequate verification of lawful presence and identity documentation, plus misalignment of license validity with employment authorization timelines. Another 24,000 licenses are under review, potentially bringing the total affected to 41,000. The affected drivers are those with temporary legal status, such as asylum seekers and DACA recipients. The DMV stated that all affected drivers had valid federal work authorization when the licenses were issued. The state agency also accused the federal government of spreading misleading information about immigrant truck drivers. The FMCSA is withholding over $158 million in highway safety funding from California for failing to cancel the licenses by the original deadline. The agency found California issued licenses that extended beyond a driver's authorized work period. The DMV was also found to have failed to enforce English language proficiency requirements. The California DMV has been directed by a court to allow those who received a cancellation letter to reapply for a CDL. However, the DMV is currently blocked by the FMCSA from issuing non-domiciled CDLs. Impacted drivers can apply for a standard Class C license to drive passenger vehicles.