A federal appeals court has placed a temporary hold on new Transportation Department rules that would sharply restrict which immigrants can obtain commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) in the United States. The ruling pauses one of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s most contentious policy moves, introduced following a series of deadly truck crashes involving drivers not authorized to be in the country.
The decision, issued Thursday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, prevents the federal government from enforcing the new rules while the legal challenge continues.
Why the New Rules Were Blocked
The appeals court said the Transportation Department did not follow required procedures before rolling out the regulations announced in September. Judges concluded that federal officials failed to justify how the new restrictions would improve road safety.
In its opinion, the court cited the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s own data, which shows:
- Immigrants with commercial licenses represent about 5% of CDL holders.
- They are involved in just 0.2% of fatal crashes nationwide.
These figures, the judges said, contradict the department’s claims that limiting noncitizen drivers would meaningfully enhance public safety.
Background: Deadly Crashes Sparked Push for New Restrictions
Duffy unveiled the rules one month after a devastating crash in Florida involving Harjinder Singh, a truck driver in the U.S. without authorization. Singh allegedly made an illegal U-turn, causing a collision that killed three people. He has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of vehicular homicide and manslaughter.
That incident, alongside similar fatal crashes in Texas, Alabama, and California earlier this year, intensified scrutiny on how states verify work authorization for commercial drivers.
California came under particular fire after an audit revealed thousands of CDLs remained valid even after recipients’ work permits expired. Earlier this week, the state revoked 17,000 commercial licenses—but those revocations were carried out under existing rules, not the new restrictions halted by the court.
What the Blocked Rules Would Have Done
The Transportation Department’s proposed regulations would dramatically reduce the number of immigrants eligible for CDLs.
Key provisions included:
- Only holders of three visa categories—H-2A, H-2B, and E-2—could apply.
- States would be required to verify immigration status using a federal database.
- Licenses would be valid for no more than one year, and expire sooner if a visa expires.
If implemented, the rules would narrow eligibility from roughly 200,000 noncitizen CDL holders to only about 10,000. The remaining 190,000 would keep their existing licenses until renewal.
Political and Industry Reactions
A spokesperson for the Transportation Department emphasized that the court ruling was procedural—not a judgment on safety concerns.
“This is not a ruling on the merits,” the agency said. “Secretary Duffy will continue working to keep unqualified, foreign drivers off American roads.”
California officials have not commented on the ruling. The governor’s office has previously said the state followed guidance from the Department of Homeland Security when issuing licenses to noncitizens.
Trucking groups, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, support the restrictions. Many believe tighter rules are necessary to ensure safety.
“For too long, loopholes allowed unqualified drivers onto our highways,” said Todd Spencer, the association’s president.
A bill pending in Congress would formally write these restrictions into law.
California Could Lose More Funding
Duffy has already revoked $40 million in federal funding from California, accusing the state of failing to enforce English language requirements for commercial drivers. He has threatened to withhold an additional $160 million if California does not invalidate all improperly issued licenses and address federal concerns.
He also alleges that five other states improperly issued CDLs to noncitizens, but California is the only one where a full audit has been completed. Reviews in the remaining states have been delayed by the federal government shutdown.
What Happens Next?
The appeals court will continue reviewing the case, and the Transportation Department may revise or defend its proposed rules. For now, the blocked regulations cannot be enforced, and immigrant commercial drivers will continue operating under existing standards.
The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between road safety concerns, immigration policy, and workforce needs—especially in a trucking industry facing nationwide driver shortages.
As the legal and political debate unfolds, states and federal officials will likely face increased pressure to balance safety oversight with the economic realities of America’s transport sector.
