The Asian Law Caucus and the Sikh Coalition, with Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of nearly 20,000 immigrant truck drivers after the California DMV sent notices to cancel non-domiciled CDLs due to an expiration-date error. Plaintiffs say 17,299 drivers received notices on Nov. 6 with cancellations set for Jan. 5, 2026, and about 2,700 more were told their licenses would be canceled in mid-February. The suit seeks a court order requiring the DMV to correct licenses or halt cancellations, arguing the revocations would harm livelihoods and disrupt supply chains. It cites individual examples of drivers who appear compliant and a Jakara Movement member who alleges he was pressured to surrender his CDL.
Nearly 20,000 Immigrant Truckers Sue California DMV to Block Mass CDL Cancellations
California is moving to revoke 17,000 commercial driver's licenses after pressure from the Trump administration.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles is facing a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of nearly 20,000 immigrant commercial drivers who say the agency plans to cancel their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) because of an administrative error affecting license expiration dates.
Who Filed The Suit
On Tuesday, the Asian Law Caucus and the Sikh Coalition, joined by the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Jakara Movement and five named drivers. The complaint asks a court to stop the DMV from revoking the contested licenses and to require the agency to issue corrected CDLs without interrupting driving privileges.
Allegations And Scope
According to the filing, the DMV sent notices on Nov. 6 to 17,299 immigrant drivers and business owners notifying them that their non-domiciled CDLs would be canceled on Jan. 5, 2026, after an error was discovered in the licenses’ expiration dates. A similar notice was sent in December to about 2,700 additional drivers, warning of cancellations in mid-February. Collectively, plaintiffs say roughly 19,999 drivers were affected.
The complaint alleges the DMV failed to follow California’s procedures for handling expiration-date issues. Plaintiffs contend the DMV is required either to correct the expiration date so it aligns with the end of a person’s authorized period of work or lawful presence, or to cancel the license without prejudice — allowing the individual to renew or correct the record. Instead, the suit says, the DMV informed drivers it intended to cancel the CDLs without providing a process to obtain corrected licenses or to challenge the cancellations.
In an aerial view, trucks drive on Interstate 80 on Nov. 14, 2025, in Albany, Calif.
"For all 19,999 immigrants, the DMV intends to cancel their commercial licenses without affording any opportunity to obtain a corrected license or to contest the cancellation," the complaint states.
Examples Cited In The Complaint
The filing includes individual examples to illustrate alleged errors and harms. One plaintiff, identified as John Doe 4, reportedly received a cancellation notice despite his CDL and work authorization expiring on the same day — the expiration date he used to renew the license. Another plaintiff, a Jakara Movement member, says he visited a DMV office and felt pressured to surrender his CDL after staff indicated his noncommercial license might already be canceled.
Potential Economic And Public Impact
Plaintiffs emphasize that the proposed cancellations would extend beyond individuals, potentially disrupting supply chains and essential services. The complaint notes commercial drivers transport food, deliver manufactured goods, and provide other services communities rely on daily. The suit warns that removing nearly 20,000 CDLs could cause significant labor shortages and local interruption of services.
Relief Sought And Context
The plaintiffs ask the court for a writ of mandate and for either a preliminary or permanent injunction requiring the DMV to permit affected drivers to obtain corrected CDLs without interruption to their driving privileges. The suit follows federal scrutiny: in November, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it had been in dialogue with California about revoking non-domiciled CDLs. The dispute has raised questions about administrative procedures and federal-state coordination after several high-profile crashes involving non-domiciled CDL holders led to increased federal attention.
The California DMV and Governor Gavin Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to the filing.
