Overview
- Alameda County Superior Court Judge Karin Schwartz said the DMV must allow about 20,000 non‑domiciled immigrant commercial drivers to reapply for or retain licenses pending a final ruling, averting March 6 cancellations.
- The licenses were targeted after a federal audit found expiration dates that exceeded work authorization, which the state attributes to DMV clerical errors.
- DOT has moved to withhold roughly $158–$160 million in highway safety funds, and FMCSA has threatened to decertify California’s commercial licensing program if the state resumes issuing these licenses.
- California is suing the transportation department over the funding threat and directives, while unions and Public Citizen are separately suing to block a new federal rule that would restrict licenses for certain noncitizens.
- Many affected drivers are Sikh asylum seekers and other immigrants with valid work permits who say losing licenses would wipe out jobs, burden families, and disrupt freight-dependent businesses.