Federal Scrutiny Intensifies Over CDLs for Undocumented Immigrants Amid Safety Concerns

Federal authorities are increasing pressure on states over the issuance of Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) to undocumented immigrants, following a surge in concerns about road safety and compliance with federal regulations. This comes as a recent tweet from Saran Shanmugam ignited public discussion, alleging that some immigrant truck drivers are "illegals - a bane and disloyal to India, a burden to the US, and inviting hate to the Indians/Indian Americans in the US."

The tweet specifically claimed that these individuals "falsely claim asylum in the US, citing religious persecution by India, albeit falsely," and that they "fail the Commercial Driving License (CDL) tests as English is essential for the tests, and these guys can hardly speak a sentence in English." Shanmugam further asserted that "Dem states issue them the CDL violating every license rule in the book. They flout every driving rule, turning the huge trucks into killing machines."

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the White House have recently criticized states, particularly California, for allegedly failing to enforce federal English language proficiency requirements and for improperly issuing CDLs to individuals without legal status. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned California about potential loss of federal highway safety funding, citing cases like Jashanpreet Singh, an Indian national accused of causing a fatal crash in California while allegedly under the influence of drugs. Singh's CDL was reportedly upgraded by California weeks after new federal rules took effect requiring verification of legal status. Another incident involving Harjinder Singh, an undocumented immigrant from India, who was involved in a fatal crash in Florida, also highlighted concerns about English proficiency, with officials stating he failed English and road sign tests.

Federal law mandates that CDL holders must be able to "read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records." In April 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order strengthening the enforcement of this long-standing requirement, reversing a previous policy that had relaxed its application. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has updated its out-of-service criteria, effective June 25, 2025, to include English language proficiency violations, meaning drivers failing a two-part assessment during roadside inspections will be placed out of service.

Regarding asylum claims, data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicates a significant increase in applications from Indian nationals, surging by 855% from 4,330 in FY 2021 to 41,330 in FY 2023. Many of these claims are reportedly based on religious persecution, with Sikhs and Muslims frequently citing discrimination and violence in India. While the number of applications has risen, the success rate for Indian asylum seekers remains below 15% in defensive cases, though massive backlogs in immigration courts often delay removal processes.

The claims regarding safety and rule-flouting are part of a broader debate. While specific data comparing accident rates of immigrant truck drivers versus the general trucking population is not readily available, federal officials and new legislative proposals emphasize that non-compliance with CDL standards, including English proficiency, poses a direct threat to public safety. The recent incidents in California and Florida involving drivers with questionable legal status and English skills have fueled calls for stricter enforcement and standardized testing to ensure all commercial drivers meet federal safety qualifications.