California’s DMV illegally issued commercial driver’s licenses to over 20,000 migrants.

Now those migrants are suing to keep the licenses — claiming their “rights” are being violated.

One of those illegally licensed drivers killed three people in Florida after making an illegal U-turn. He couldn’t pass a basic English test. He couldn’t identify highway traffic signs.

But sure, let’s talk about the drivers’ “livelihoods.”

The DMV Admitted to Breaking the Law

This isn’t alleged misconduct. California admitted it.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed in November that California’s DMV confessed to unlawfully issuing 17,000 non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses to migrant drivers.

That number has since grown to over 20,000.

Non-domiciled means drivers who don’t legally live in California — or in the United States.

The DMV issued them commercial licenses anyway. Illegally.

An Illegal Immigrant Driver Killed Three People

Here’s why this matters.

In August, Harjinder Singh — an Indian national living illegally in the U.S. — was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide.

He made an illegal U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike near Port St. Lucie. Three people died.

Singh failed his English Language Proficiency assessment. He answered only two of 12 verbal questions correctly. He correctly identified just one of four highway traffic signs.

He entered the country illegally through the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018. He obtained his CDL in California.

Three families are destroyed because California gave a commercial license to someone who couldn’t read road signs.

The Lawsuit Claims “Administrative Errors” Violated Workers’ Rights

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of roughly 20,000 immigrant drivers, frames this as a worker’s rights issue:

“Plaintiffs have bought homes, cars, and trucks, relying on their ability to continue working a well-paying job that requires a CDL. Many drivers are the main or even sole providers for their families.”

They bought homes. They bought trucks. They built lives.

On illegally obtained licenses. For jobs they weren’t legally qualified to hold. In a country many aren’t legally present in.

And now they want courts to protect their “rights” to keep those illegal licenses.

The Federal Government Threatened to Pull $40 Million

Secretary Duffy didn’t ignore California’s lawlessness.

In October, he began calling out the state for ignoring federal English-language requirements for truck drivers. He threatened to pull $40 million in federal transportation funds.

The pressure worked — partially.

By December 10, the DMV stopped issuing new illegal licenses. They announced plans to revoke thousands of existing ones.

That’s when the lawsuits started.

The Sikh Coalition and Asian Law Caucus Are Representing the Drivers

The legal challenge is being organized by activist groups:

The Sikh Coalition, a national civil rights organization.

The Asian Law Caucus, a San Francisco-based advocacy group.

They’re asking Alameda County Superior Court to pause the license cancellations.

Their argument: The DMV’s “administrative errors” shouldn’t harm the drivers who benefited from those errors.

Translation: California broke the law issuing these licenses, but the people who received them illegally should get to keep them anyway.

The Drivers Can’t Meet Federal Requirements

Here’s the core problem.

Federal law requires commercial drivers to demonstrate English language proficiency. They need to read road signs. They need to communicate with emergency responders. They need to understand traffic laws.

Many of these 20,000 drivers can’t meet those requirements.

That’s why California’s licensing was illegal in the first place. The state ignored federal mandates to give licenses to people who didn’t qualify.

The lawsuit isn’t about fixing “administrative errors.” It’s about preserving an illegal scheme that puts Americans at risk.

Three People Are Dead

Harjinder Singh couldn’t identify highway signs.

He made an illegal U-turn on a major highway.

Three people died.

Those victims had families too. They had homes. They had lives built on the assumption that commercial truck drivers could read road signs.

California’s illegal licensing killed them.

“Severe Financial and Emotional Hardships”

The lawsuit describes what license revocation would mean for drivers:

“The DMV’s actions will result in the loss of their hard-earned careers and impose severe financial and emotional hardships on the drivers and their families.”

Hard-earned careers based on illegally obtained licenses.

Financial stability built on lawbreaking.

Emotional hardships from losing something they never should have had.

The sympathy framing ignores the fundamental illegality of the entire arrangement.

California Created This Problem

Let’s be clear about responsibility.

The DMV broke federal law issuing these licenses.

The drivers obtained licenses they weren’t legally entitled to.

The state ignored English proficiency requirements designed to keep roads safe.

People died because of those decisions.

Now the drivers are suing to keep the fruits of California’s lawlessness, and activist lawyers are helping them.

The Trump Administration Is Forcing Compliance

For years, California operated as if federal law didn’t apply.

Sanctuary policies. Illegal licenses. Deliberate non-cooperation with federal authorities.

The Trump administration is ending that era.

Secretary Duffy threatened funding. The DMV backed down. Illegal licenses are being revoked.

Lawsuits will delay the process. But the direction is clear: California will comply with federal law, or face consequences.

20,000 Drivers on Roads They Shouldn’t Be On

Think about that number.

20,000 commercial vehicle operators — driving massive trucks capable of killing multiple people — who obtained their licenses illegally.

Many can’t pass English proficiency tests. Many can’t identify road signs. Many aren’t legally present in the country.

They’re on California’s highways. They’re on interstate routes. They’re driving near your family.

Because California decided federal law was optional.

The Lawsuit Should Fail

You don’t get to keep benefits obtained through illegal processes.

If someone receives a fraudulent degree, they don’t get to practice medicine because revoking the degree would cause “emotional hardship.”

If someone obtains citizenship through fraud, they don’t get to remain citizens because they “built lives” on that fraudulent status.

The same principle applies here. Illegally issued licenses should be revoked. Period.

Three Families Deserve Justice

Somewhere in Florida, three families spent Christmas without their loved ones.

They’re dead because California gave a commercial license to a man who couldn’t read road signs.

Those families matter more than the “livelihoods” of drivers who obtained licenses illegally.

Revoke the licenses. Enforce the law. No more preventable deaths.