The Sikh Coalition has filed a class action lawsuit against the California DMV, challenging the cancellation of over 20,000 commercial driver licenses held by immigrant truck drivers.
OAKLAND, CA – On December 22, the Sikh Coalition, in collaboration with co-counsel from the Asian Law Caucus and the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges, filed a class action lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The lawsuit accuses the agency of unlawfully canceling more than 20,000 commercial driver licenses held by non-domiciled immigrant truck drivers.
The legal action challenges the DMV’s decision to revoke these licenses, which the plaintiffs argue was based on minor clerical discrepancies. The case is brought on behalf of five affected commercial drivers, along with the Jakara Movement, and seeks relief for thousands of drivers who claim they have been abruptly forced out of work without a meaningful opportunity to rectify their paperwork issues.
According to the complaint, the California DMV began issuing cancellation notices in November to drivers whose documentation contained minor inconsistencies. These discrepancies included mismatched expiration dates between their commercial driver licenses and federal work permits.
The lawsuit follows pressure from the federal government, but it contends that the state agency failed to provide a clear process for drivers to correct these discrepancies before losing their licenses.
“The state of California must help these 20,000 drivers because, at the end of the day, the clerical errors threatening their livelihoods are of the CA DMV’s own making,” said Munmeeth Kaur, legal director of the Sikh Coalition. “If the court does not issue a stay, we will see a devastating wave of unemployment that harms individual families, as well as the destabilization of supply chains on which we all rely.”
Kaur emphasized that many of the affected drivers have dedicated years to building their careers in trucking, only to face sudden economic hardship through no fault of their own.
The plaintiffs argue that the mass cancellations not only harm immigrant families but also pose a significant risk to supply chains that rely heavily on commercial trucking.
This lawsuit highlights the challenges faced by immigrant workers in the trucking industry and raises questions about the responsibilities of state agencies in ensuring fair treatment and due process.
As the case unfolds, the Sikh Coalition and its co-counsel are advocating for a resolution that would allow affected drivers to retain their licenses and continue their work in the industry.
According to India West, the outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for thousands of immigrant truck drivers in California.