Texas Quietly Revokes Commercial Licenses for 6,400 Non-Citizen Truckers Amid Political Pressure
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has quietly disqualified approximately 6,400 commercial truck drivers with asylum, refugee, or DACA status from operating in the state, effectively removing them from the workforce. The move comes in response to increasing demands from state Republican leaders and aligns with anticipated federal immigration crackdowns.
According to reports first surfacing this week, the cancellations began in November and target drivers holding “discretionary” immigration statuses. These individuals, who possess valid federal work authorization, are legally permitted to work in the United States. However, Texas officials have moved to invalidate their state-issued Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) or downgrade them to standard Class C licenses, citing compliance with stricter interpretations of domicile requirements.
State Policy Shift
The disqualifications appear to stem from a policy shift within the Texas DPS following pressure from conservative lawmakers, including State Rep. Briscoe Cain. The scrutiny initially focused on concerns regarding non-citizen voter registration, which subsequently expanded into a review of CDL issuance for non-citizens.
Under the new enforcement protocol, Texas is refusing to renew or is actively cancelling “non-domiciled” CDLs for individuals who cannot prove permanent residency or citizenship, even if they hold valid Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued by the federal government. The policy specifically impacts those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Regulatory Background
Federal regulations generally allow states to issue “non-domiciled” CDLs to individuals who are legally present in the U.S. but do not have a permanent state of domicile, provided they meet testing and safety standards. These licenses are typically tied to the expiration date of the driver’s immigration documents.
Historically, Texas has issued these licenses to allow federally authorized immigrants to work in the logistics sector. The recent purge represents a significant departure from this precedent, leveraging state licensing authority to block employment for a specific subset of non-citizen residents.
Economic and Legal Concerns
Critics of the policy argue that the sudden removal of over 6,000 drivers will exacerbate existing supply chain strains and labor shortages in the trucking industry. Immigration advocates contend that the state is overstepping its authority by effectively nullifying federal work permits. They argue that because these drivers have passed the same rigorous safety exams and background checks as U.S. citizens, the revocation is discriminatory and unrelated to road safety.
Affected drivers report receiving letters notifying them of their license cancellation with little recourse, leaving them unable to maintain their livelihoods despite maintaining legal status to be in the country.
Official Stance
Texas officials have defended the move as a necessary measure to ensure the integrity of state-issued identification and compliance with federal safety statutes. Proponents of the stricter rules, including certain industry groups, have cited concerns over “fraud” and the need for tighter vetting of non-domiciled drivers. The Texas Trucking Association has previously expressed support for measures that align state policies with federal safety expectations, though the abrupt removal of thousands of active drivers presents an immediate logistical challenge for the industry.
