Transit sec vows to fight ruling after court blocks Trump effort to stop illegal immigrant truck drivers from getting CDLs

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says he’s gearing up for a major fight after a federal appeals court blocked the Trump administration’s new restrictions on immigrant commercial truck drivers. Duffy posted a statement on X shortly after the ruling, warning that the decision puts the public at risk and undermines efforts to keep unqualified drivers off the road.

“I will FIGHT this ruling,” Duffy wrote, saying a national audit revealed a “complete breakdown” in how states issue non-domiciled commercial licenses. “Our new rule CLOSES a loophole that let foreign drivers get a trucking license without proving they qualify. That’s absurd, and a DIRECT THREAT to the public.”

The ruling from the DC federal appeals court said the Department of Transportation did not follow proper rulemaking procedures before issuing the policy. The restrictions were announced in September after Harjinder Singh — an Indian citizen who illegally crossed into the US in 2018 — was accused of causing a crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, that killed three people. Singh has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of vehicular homicide and manslaughter.

Court documents and state records show Singh repeatedly failed written CDL exams, including an English proficiency test. A separate audit in California uncovered that thousands of immigrant CDL holders kept valid licenses long after their work permits expired, leading the state to revoke 17,000 licenses.

Under the blocked DOT rule, only immigrants with three specific visa categories would be allowed to obtain a commercial driver’s license, with each license valid for just one year and immigration status verified through a federal database. Roughly 10,000 of the nation’s 200,000 immigrant CDL holders would no longer qualify.

Duffy argues the changes are urgently needed. “Just look at the recent crashes by these drivers, which killed a dozen of innocent Americans,” he wrote. “This is a CRISIS that requires immediate action.”

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association backed the administration’s efforts earlier this year, saying the government was right to tighten standards. “Pausing visas for commercial truck drivers will help ensure only qualified individuals get licensed,” OOIDA president Todd Spencer said.

Duffy also moved in October to withhold $40 million from California for not enforcing federal English-language requirements during roadside inspections. The state must fix the issue before the funds are reinstated.