Texas stopped issuing commercial driver licenses (CDL) for certain immigrant truckers Monday, following the federal government’s lead after an emergency rule change by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced it would stop issuing or renewing CDLs for “non-citizens who are refugees, asylees or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients” in a press release.
The press release said that change would also extend to commercial learners permits for these groups of immigrants. Refugees, those granted asylum or DACA recipients who applied or have a pending CDL will not be allowed to continue that process.
“Customers with a pending issuance will not be allowed to continue any written or skills testing until the services for non-domicile CDL/CLP are reinstated,” read the DPS press release.
People who have been granted refugee, asylum or DACA status by the federal government have the right to work in the United States once they are approved for that status, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A collection of trucking industry companies endorsed the DPS announcement.
The Texas Trucking Association, a membership organization that includes trucking companies, suppliers, insurers and other businesses, supported the rule changes from DPS and the federal government in a statement Tuesday.
“We support the Trump administration and U.S. Transportation Secretary (Sean) Duffy in efforts to eliminate fraud and remove unqualified drivers from our highways,” wrote TXTA President John D. Esparza in a statement. “As the Texas Department of Public Safety updates non-domiciled CDL rules, TXTA emphasizes the need for uniform standards that protect safety while also preserving the continuity of interstate commerce.”
DPS is working to comply with federal rules, according to the press release.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it was concerned about fatal crashes involving drivers who are not citizens and alleged that California, specifically, had been issuing CDLs improperly.
“Moving forward, non-citizens will not be eligible for a non-domiciled CDL unless they meet a much stricter set of rules, including an employment-based visa and undergoing a mandatory federal immigration status check,” read the department’s announcement.
The federal announcement does not name asylees, refugees or DACA recipients.
In a fact sheet, the U.S. Department of Transportation said non-citizens who applied for CDLs must have an unexpired foreign passport, a record of their arrival or departure and an H2-B, H2-A or E-2 visa.
Lawful permanent residents are an exception and can apply for CDLs, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation fact sheet. Asylees and refugees can apply for lawful permanent residency, or a green card, one year after being granted that status.
