20,000 Immigrant Truckers Sue California DMV to Halt Commercial License Cancellations
California—California immigrant truck drivers are suing the California Department of Motor Vehicles to block its plan to cancel nearly 20,000 commercial driver’s licenses, arguing the state’s actions threaten their livelihoods and violate due-process protections. According to Fox News and Associated Press, plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court this week.
The legal challenge raises tension between state administrators and immigrant workforces just weeks before the cancellations are set to begin. The lawsuit claims that the DMV’s plan to revoke the licenses stems from clerical errors involving expiration dates that didn’t match drivers’ work authorizations — errors the state could fix under California law but chose not to.
DMV notices sent in November and December 2025 warned immigrant truckers that their non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses would be canceled starting Jan. 5, 2026, due to mismatches between license expiration dates and federal authorization periods. Subsequent notices extended similar cancellations to mid-February.
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The lawsuit, led by the Sikh Coalition, the Asian Law Caucus, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, argues that the DMV failed to follow state procedures requiring immediate opportunities to reapply for corrected licenses.
“These drivers have spent years anchoring their lives to these careers, only to now face potential economic ruin…” said Sikh Coalition legal director Munmeeth Kaur.
California’s truck driving workforce includes many immigrant residents who support families and local economies. Plaintiffs warn that abrupt cancellations could disrupt supply chains and cause widespread unemployment among drivers who depend on their CDLs.
The DMV and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office have not publicly responded to the lawsuit. The case puts pressure on the state just as federal authorities increase scrutiny of immigrant-issued CDLs nationwide.
Next, the court will consider motions from both sides, including requests to halt the cancellations while legal arguments proceed.
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It is hard to tell differences any more between political reality against immigrant workers and what is just and right to do for human beings who what to prosper and don't have the capital to fight the MAN and hope the broken justice system will fix it.