U.S. limits Mexican train crews over English rules
The Trump administration has moved to restrict Mexican train crews, citing safety concerns tied to English‑language proficiency rules. At the same time DOT Secretary Sean Duffy says the department is working with DHS to crack down on non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses issued to illegal or ineligible foreign nationals—prompting mass revocations in California (about 17,000), allegations of widespread illegal issuance in New York, threats to withhold federal funding from noncompliant states, and actions spurred by fatal crashes linked to licensing failures.
📌 Key Facts
- DOT Secretary Sean Duffy says the Department of Transportation is working with DHS on a nationwide crackdown on non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to illegal immigrants or otherwise ineligible foreign nationals.
- Duffy says the DOT is threatening to withhold federal highway funds from states that do not comply with federal CDL rules and vetting requirements.
- Under DOT pressure, California has revoked about 17,000 non‑domiciled CDLs deemed problematic.
- Duffy alleges more than half of New York’s non‑domiciled CDLs were issued illegally, including to people who may lack lawful U.S. presence or who used short‑term work permits to obtain seven‑year truck or school‑bus licenses.
- The crackdown was prompted in part by a fatal crash on Florida’s Turnpike involving an Indian national with a California‑issued CDL; the article says there have been "several deaths" linked to such licensing failures.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2020, American Indian/Alaska Native people had the highest motor vehicle fatality rate at 22.79 per 100,000 population, followed by Black or African American at 15.51 per 100,000, while the rate for White people was 10.89 per 100,000.
Traffic Safety Facts: 2020 Data - Race and Ethnicity — NHTSA
Non-Hispanic Black Americans experience a passenger vehicle fatality rate 73% higher than non-Hispanic White Americans, based on 2023 data.
Motor Vehicle Fatality Disparities by Race or Ethnic Origin — National Safety Council
The Biden administration expanded the H-2B visa program, nearly doubling the number of available permits for foreign truck drivers in 2025, contributing to an increase in foreign-born workers in the trucking industry.
Uncertainty as Biden visa expansion, Trump immigration policies collide — FreightWaves
Programs like CBP One and CHNV parole under the Biden administration issued work permits to more than 531,000 migrants by September 2024, which some used to obtain commercial driver's licenses.
Effective immediately, the Trump administration is blocking foreign... — Facebook (group post citing policy data)
Foreign-born drivers account for nearly one in six U.S. truck drivers, helping address labor shortages but raising concerns about safety and visa policies.
Addressing the U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: The Role of Foreign-Born Drivers, Visa Policy, and Supply Chain Impacts — Forum Together
Several Mexican train crews arriving at U.S. rail yards in Texas had trouble understanding important safety instructions in English, leading to new restrictions limiting their operations to no more than 10 miles into the U.S.
Inspectors find Mexican train crews in Texas didn't speak English — AP News
📰 Sources (2)
- DOT Secretary Sean Duffy says DOT is working with DHS on a nationwide crackdown on non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to illegal immigrants or ineligible foreign nationals.
- Duffy states California has already revoked 17,000 problematic non‑domiciled CDLs under DOT pressure.
- He claims that more than half of non‑domiciled CDLs issued by New York’s DOT were 'issued illegally', including to people who may lack lawful U.S. presence or used short‑term work permits to obtain seven‑year truck or school‑bus licenses.
- Duffy says DOT is threatening to withhold federal money from states that do not comply with federal CDL rules and vetting requirements.
- Article cites a specific fatal crash on Florida’s Turnpike involving an Indian national with a California‑issued CDL as a catalyst for the crackdown and says there have been 'several deaths' linked to such licensing failures.