200K truck drivers could lose their licenses in Trump’s immigration push

(NewsNation) — A new rule effective this week could strip up to 200,000 immigrant truck drivers of their commercial driver’s licenses, or CDLs. The regulations bar most immigrants from holding the licenses, with the only exceptions being people in the U.S. on H–2A (temporary agricultural workers), H–2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) or E–2 (treaty investors) visas. The newest rule includes barring asylum-seekers, as well as immigrants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or Temporary Protected Status. There is ongoing litigation to try to block the policy. Drivers will lose their licenses as they expire, not immediately, though the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration “strongly recommends” that states audit their drivers’ qualifications soon. Border Patrol’s Gregory Bovino to retire after nearly 30 years It’s a win for the Trump administration, which has in recent months taken aim at immigrants holding CDLs after several fatal accidents and reports of states illegally issuing the licenses. A truck driver, who authorities have said wasn’t authorized to be in the U.S., is accused of making an illegal U-turn and causing a crash in Florida that killed three people last summer. Administration officials have attributed two additional fatal crashes — both in Indiana — to people unlawfully in the country. Play VideoDeadly Indiana crash renews debate over immigration, CDL standards | Morning in America Appeals court allows Trump to swiftly deport migrants to third countries “For far too long, America has allowed dangerous foreign drivers to abuse our truck licensing systems – wreaking havoc on our roadways. This safety loophole ends today,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in February while announcing the new CDL rules. Last month, the department also mandated that truckers take their licensing tests in English. While commercial drivers are required to demonstrate proficiency in English, many states previously allowed them to take the CDL test in other languages. More leadership changes coming to Trump’s immigration team Top border official Gregory Bovino, who became the face of Trump’s recent immigration crackdown, is set to retire at the end of the month. Bovino was removed from Border Patrol months ago as “commander at large” following tense immigration operations across the country and two fatal shootings by federal officers in Minnesota. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – FEBRUARY 7: People attend a public memorial service for Renee Good in Powderhorn Park on February 7, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today marks one month since Good, a mother of three, was shot and killed by federal agents. Protests continue calling for an end to immigration raids in the Twin cities which have already resulted in the fatal shooting deaths of Good and Alex Pretti, a VA nurse.(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)Read More » UNITED STATES – MARCH 4: Ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., references a DHS advertising campaign while questioning DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during the House Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security,” in Rayburn building on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)Read More » FILE – U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino stands with Federal agents outside a convenience store, Jan. 21, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, File)Read More » High school students gather for anti-ICE protest outside the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, to call for an end to federal immigration detentions and enforcement actions, days after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, on January 14, 2026. Hundreds more federal agents were heading to Minneapolis, the US homeland security chief said on January 11, brushing aside demands by the Midwestern city’s Democratic leaders to leave after an immigration officer fatally shot a woman protester. In multiple TV interviews, US Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem defended the actions of the officer who shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, whose death has sparked renewed protests nationwide against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images)Read More » MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – FEBRUARY 7: People attend a public memorial service for Renee Good in Powderhorn Park on February 7, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today marks one month since Good, a mother of three, was shot and killed by federal agents. Protests continue calling for an end to immigration raids in the Twin cities which have already resulted in the fatal shooting deaths of Good and Alex Pretti, a VA nurse.(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)Read More » UNITED STATES – MARCH 4: Ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., references a DHS advertising campaign while questioning DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during the House Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security,” in Rayburn building on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)Read More » UNITED STATES – MARCH 4: Ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., references a DHS advertising campaign while questioning DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during the House Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security,” in Rayburn building on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)Read More » Inside Noem’s tense relationship with controversial DHS inspector general That same operation led to criticism of Kristi Noem from both Democrats and Republicans about her handling of the shootings, the messaging she pushed about those killed and pricey ad campaigns for her department. Noem was pushed out of her job as Department of Homeland Security secretary earlier this month. Trump’s nominee to replace her, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., is set for his confirmation hearing with lawmakers Wednesday. Supreme Court considering protections for Haitian, Somali migrants The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up a major immigration case — one that could determine whether the Trump administration can end protections for some migrants from countries like Haiti and Somalia. Right now, Temporary Protected Status allows people to stay and work in the U.S. if their home countries are deemed too dangerous due to war, disaster or instability. Now, justices are being asked to decide not just the future of those protections but also who has the final say: the White House or the courts. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.