California Extends 17,000 CDLs by 60 Days Amid Lawsuit

California's Department of Motor Vehicles announced Tuesday a 60-day extension for approximately 17,000 commercial driver's licenses held by nondomiciled foreign nationals, pushing back their scheduled cancellation from January 5 to March 6. The delay follows a class-action lawsuit filed last week by immigrant advocacy groups and aims to prevent the wrongful revocation of licenses for drivers who legally qualify under federal rules.

The licenses in question were issued to non-U.S. citizens, including immigrants with temporary work authorizations. Last month, the DMV notified 17,299 such holders that their credentials would be terminated due to mismatches between license expiration dates and documentation verifying lawful presence or work eligibility. California officials stated the extension provides additional time to review cases and ensure compliance with federal requirements without disrupting the livelihoods of eligible drivers.

The move comes amid heightened federal scrutiny from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has pressed states to revoke licenses issued to individuals without legal status. Duffy's push intensified after a truck driver unauthorized to be in...