The transportation sector’s trucking industry is increasingly the focus of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration as the federal government targets foreign commercial drivers nationwide.While President Donald Trump’s first term focused heavily on border security, his second term has examined how illegal immigration affects business, healthcare, education, and crime — and his administration is implementing plans to disincentivize illegal immigration by targeting programs that have attracted it.In the wake of at least 17 fatal roadway accidents and 30 deaths in 2025 that involved illegal immigrants operating commercial trucks, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Trump administration has repeatedly ramped up its targeting of states that gave commercial driver’s licenses to people not authorized to reside or work in the United States.
Thousands of licenses revoked
Over the past year, the Trump administration has rescinded 28,000 illegally issued licenses and is now going after 194,000 more CDL holders, according to FMCSA’s final rule.Foreign-born commercial drivers have doubled from 315,981 in 2000 to 720,000 in 2021, according to the National Immigration Forum, an immigrant advocacy nonprofit organization. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates they make up 18% of all commercial drivers.In his first 100 days in office, Trump signed an executive order that required commercial truck drivers to speak English. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy implemented a requirement in May 2025 that truck drivers meet the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s English language proficiency standards and can read and follow road signs, or be taken off the road.The American Trucking Associations, the largest national trade association for the trucking industry, had expressed support for the administration’s decision.“ATA supports steps to strengthen credentialing standards and ensure that non-domiciled CDL holders have and maintain the proper authorization and qualifications required under federal law,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said in a statement. “Rules only work when they are consistently enforced, and it’s imperative that all state driver licensing agencies comply with federal regulations.”Blue states under scrutiny
