It seems as if Texas won’t be issuing more driving licenses for three groups, and more people will be losing their driver’s licenses in the state. Which types of driving licenses are these, and why are changes happening? The new policy in Texas prevents three groups of immigrants from obtaining their Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) or their Commercial learner’s permits. The decision was made following a federal emergency rule and comes after rising concerns over immigration and employment eligibility.
Why has this block come into place at this time?
According to the new rule by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), only non-citizens with employment-based visas and verified law presence can qualify for CDLs. The exclusion in terms of driving license issuing even extends to those who had previously qualified under federal protection, like DACA or international refugee programs. Those non-citizens who qualified for CDLs under asylum programs have also been ruled out of the equation and are now blocked from receiving their CDLs in the state of Texas.
As it stands, all pending applications for driver’s licenses from people from one of the three groups that have been blocked from receiving their licenses will now be canceled with no further renewals or testing in the pipeline. As has been stated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the decision has been taken so as to avoid fraudulent applications and to keep the roads in Texas safer. Statistics show that out of 220,000,000 CDLs issued in Texas last year alone, 6,200 were classified as being “non-domicile” and were granted to legal non-citizens.
How could the trucking industry be affected by this decision?
Individual drivers who have been denied their commercial licenses are affected, but so too is the trucking industry. With Texas being one of the largest freight hubs, the logistics industry is affected as DACA recipients make up over 2% of the trucking workforce. While the percentage of workers affected by the new law seems low, these individuals occupy key roles, more so in rural areas.
The fear is that this new rule could worsen labor shortages in such industries. This new requirement in Texas follows Governor Greg Abbott’s decision to enforce far more stringent English proficiency evaluations with far more thorough documentation checks at the time of CDL testing. All the measures put in place are arguably said to be in favor of road safety in the state. The new rule, however, has experienced much criticism from critics who argue that this law is politically motivated.
Escalating political tension and the overall impact of the new law in Texas
Such decisions have led to national debate about labor rights and immigration. The law also follows the decision taken by President Donald Trump regarding the introduction of new fees on H-1B visas. Although a move towards greater road safety, the law does have an impact on the immigrants affected by it.
Immigrants who have spent a considerable amount of time growing and thriving in the transportation industry are the most affected by the law. Many immigrants won’t have a job in the transportation industry any longer. There is also a growing fear among immigrants that this law may result in further exclusions from the state. However, at this stage, immigrants are not excluded from anything other than CDLs if they no longer qualify. When Texas started banning license plates, more than 2000 were rejected, and now rejection is the order of the day in the state yet again.
Which 3 groups are excluded from gaining their CDLs?
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the three groups of immigrants that are now blocked from receiving their CDLs are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients (DACA), refugees, and asylees. These three groups of immigrants may no longer work or earn a living from the transportation industries. Immigrants from these three groups will not be able to help certain industries facing labor shortages as well. This is yet another driving law that fits in well with all other new driving laws in Texas.
