A group of immigrant truckers has filed a lawsuit against California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), charging that the state has violated the rights of thousands of workers with its recent decision to revoke their commercial driver’s licenses.
According to officials, over 21,000 truckers were notified last month that their licenses would be revoked due to expiration dates that extended beyond their legal status in the U.S. This action is part of a wider effort by the federal government to crack down on states issuing licenses to undocumented immigrants.
The Sikh Coalition, along with the San Francisco-based Asian Law Caucus, has taken legal action on behalf of the affected truck drivers, arguing that the DMV's decisions are infringing upon their due process rights and threatening their livelihoods.
Legal director Munmeeth Kaur of the Sikh Coalition stated, “These drivers have spent years anchoring their lives to these careers, only to now face potential economic ruin through no fault of their own — they deserve better, and California must do better.”
The lawsuit seeks an immediate halt to the license cancellations and emphasizes that the livelihoods of these drivers are at stake.
In response to ongoing concerns regarding immigrant truck drivers and safety, particularly following two fatal crashes involving undocumented drivers, California officials have intensified their scrutiny over the issuance of commercial licenses.
As of now, the DMV has stated that it cannot comment on pending litigation.
