Texas has canceled more than 6,400 commercial driver licenses held by immigrant drivers since November, marking one of the most significant state-level actions tied to the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on non-domiciled CDL holders. The move primarily affects asylum recipients, refugees, and DACA recipients who are legally authorized to work in the United States but do not have permanent residency or employment-based visas.
State data indicates that the cancellations represent roughly two-thirds of all commercial drivers in Texas with discretionary immigration status. Many of the affected drivers report receiving little to no advance notice, leaving them unable to legally work while still responsible for truck payments, insurance premiums, and other business expenses tied to their livelihoods.
One such driver, Essa Khan Nikmohammad, a former U.S. Army combat interpreter from Afghanistan who was granted asylum in 2023, said his CDL was revoked in December. Like many others, he emphasized that he entered the country legally and followed all licensing requirements before the policy shift.
Federal Pressure and Safety Rationale
Federal officials argue that the cancellations are rooted in public safety concerns. The Department of Transportation launched a nationwide audit of non-domiciled CDLs following several high-profile crashes, including a 17-vehicle pileup on Interstate 35 in Austin that killed five people. The driver involved in that incident reportedly had limited English proficiency.
The audit found that some states, including Texas, had issued CDLs with expiration dates that extended beyond drivers’ federal work authorization periods. In response, DOT threatened to withhold federal highway funds from states that failed to correct these discrepancies.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also advanced an emergency rule preventing asylum recipients, refugees, and DACA recipients from obtaining or renewing CDLs for longhaul trucking. The rule argued that limiting CDLs to drivers with employment-based visas would reduce safety risks and ensure licenses are tied to legitimate work authorization.
Although a federal court temporarily blocked the emergency rule, Texas officials have continued enforcing related federal directives. As a result, drivers whose licenses were canceled during the audit cannot reapply, even if they still hold valid work permits.
Data and Industry Response
DOT officials have acknowledged that there is no definitive evidence linking nationality to crash risk. Federal statistics show that while immigrant drivers hold about 5% of CDLs nationwide, they account for approximately 0.2% of fatal truck crashes. Overall, more than 5,000 large trucks are involved in fatal crashes each year, the vast majority driven by U.S. citizens.
Texas currently has more than 718,000 active CDLs, most of them issued to citizens, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Despite the controversy, industry groups in Texas have largely supported the audit. John Esparza, president of the Texas Trucking Association, said the organization backs the administration’s actions, viewing them as a necessary step to improve safety and prevent abuse of the licensing system. While acknowledging that many immigrant drivers are skilled and responsible, Esparza emphasized the need to maintain strict oversight to protect the integrity of the state’s driver pool.
As enforcement continues, the situation highlights the growing tension between federal immigration policy, state compliance, workforce stability, and safety oversight in the trucking industry.
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