The Trump administration finalized a rule on Wednesday that blocks unvetted foreign nationals from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses, ending a system that allowed tens of thousands of drivers with unknown or dangerous histories to legally operate heavy trucks and buses in the United States. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy stated the rule “ends a safety loophole that has wreaked havoc on our roadways.”
The new regulation prohibits states from licensing truck and bus drivers whose driving histories cannot be verified through consular or interagency screening. It eliminates Employment Authorization Documents as valid CDL documentation, mandates SAVE verification of immigration status, and restricts licensing to fully vetted H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 visa holders only. States that refuse to comply may lose federal highway funding.
Recent fatalities attributed to unvetted drivers include:
– February 2025: A non-domiciled driver caused a multi-vehicle collision in a Wyoming tunnel on I-80, resulting in three deaths and twenty injuries.
– June 2025: Another non-domiciled driver attempted an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike, causing three fatalities.
– October [year]: A California highway accident involved eight vehicles and three fatalities.
Secretary Duffy dedicated this rule to Dalilah Coleman and every American killed or maimed by unqualified foreign truck drivers, stating all these deaths were preventable. Federal audits revealed that California issued approximately 60,000 non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, with 25 percent improperly licensed. Some licenses remain valid despite expired immigration documents.
When the Trump administration demanded California comply with new rules, Governor Gavin Newsom refused to act. Secretary Duffy responded: “It would have never happened if Gavin Newsom had followed our new rules. California broke the law and now three people are dead and two are hospitalized.”
In contrast, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered strict enforcement of English proficiency requirements and partnered with federal agencies to remove dangerous drivers from the roadways. Oklahoma law enforcement arrested 70 illegal aliens in highway sweeps, removing 34 unlawful drivers who had obtained their licenses from sanctuary states like California, Illinois, and New York.
