Texas Suspends Commercial Driver Licenses for Non-Citizen Immigrant Groups

Texas has suspended the issuance and renewal of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) for certain non-citizen groups, including refugees, asylees, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, following a federal emergency rule change by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This policy affects new applications, renewals, and pending CDLs, and aims to enhance road safety by enforcing stricter standards, including English language proficiency requirements mandated by Governor Greg Abbott. The Texas Trucking Association supports the move, viewing it as a necessary step to remove unqualified and unsafe drivers from the roads. However, the suspension has raised concerns among trucking professionals about potential driver shortages, especially with the upcoming holiday shipping season, which could increase costs for consumers. Approximately 3 percent of Texas CDLs are classified as non-domiciled, with refugees and DACA-eligible drivers making up a small but significant portion of the trucking workforce. This action aligns with President Donald Trump's national directive to restrict non-citizens from obtaining CDLs and to hold back federal funding from states that do not comply.