A group of immigrant truckers has filed a lawsuit against California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), alleging a violation of their rights when the state decided to revoke their commercial driver’s licenses. Last month, state officials indicated that approximately 17,000 truckers received notifications about the revocation due to expired legal residency documentation, a figure that has escalated to 21,000.
This decision by California officials comes in the wake of federal pressure following the Trump administration's clampdown on the issuance of licenses to immigrant individuals. The federal government warned California, along with other states, of potential funding repercussions regarding their handling of immigrant licenses.
Representatives for the truckers, including the Sikh Coalition and the Asian Law Caucus, contend that the state’s actions infringe upon the due process rights of the affected drivers, thereby jeopardizing their livelihoods. They are seeking an injunction from the Alameda County Superior Court to suspend the revocation process.
These drivers have spent years anchoring their lives to their careers, only to now face potential economic ruin through no fault of their own — they deserve better, and California must do better, stated Munmeeth Kaur, legal director of the Sikh Coalition.
Concerns surrounding immigrant truck drivers have intensified following incidents where unauthorized drivers were involved in deadly accidents, highlighting the ongoing dialogue about the rights and responsibilities of immigrant workers in the trucking industry. The DMV, however, has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation.
This decision by California officials comes in the wake of federal pressure following the Trump administration's clampdown on the issuance of licenses to immigrant individuals. The federal government warned California, along with other states, of potential funding repercussions regarding their handling of immigrant licenses.
Representatives for the truckers, including the Sikh Coalition and the Asian Law Caucus, contend that the state’s actions infringe upon the due process rights of the affected drivers, thereby jeopardizing their livelihoods. They are seeking an injunction from the Alameda County Superior Court to suspend the revocation process.
These drivers have spent years anchoring their lives to their careers, only to now face potential economic ruin through no fault of their own — they deserve better, and California must do better, stated Munmeeth Kaur, legal director of the Sikh Coalition.
Concerns surrounding immigrant truck drivers have intensified following incidents where unauthorized drivers were involved in deadly accidents, highlighting the ongoing dialogue about the rights and responsibilities of immigrant workers in the trucking industry. The DMV, however, has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation.
