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Sikh Coalition welcomes court relief for immigrant drivers
The group expressed concern that the ruling did not set a specific timeline for reissuance of driver’s licenses.
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Anushka Pathak - Tue, 03, Mar 2026
- 16:24 EST
- 21
The Sikh Coalition Logo / The Sikh Coalition
The Sikh Coalition on March 3 called a California court ruling “a critical step towards economic security for immigrant drivers,” while warning that swift implementation is necessary to prevent job losses.
Their reaction comes after the Alameda County Superior Court ordered the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to permit roughly 20,000 immigrant commercial drivers to reapply immediately for commercial driver’s licenses and to reissue them within a reasonable time.
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The March 2 order followed a class-action lawsuit filed in Dec. 2025 by the Sikh Coalition, Asian Law Caucus, Jakara Movement, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges. In a post on X, the coalition said, “Yesterday, we received a ruling in our lawsuit against the California DMV. The Court’s order is a critical step towards economic security for immigrant drivers, but the details matter.”
In a joint statement with co-plaintiffs, the coalition welcomed the decision but expressed concern that the ruling did not set a specific timeline for reissuance. With cancellations scheduled to begin March 6, the statement warned, “Unless CA-DMV moves quickly, these drivers will lose their ability to do their jobs on March 6.”
It added that drivers “stand to lose not only some or all of their income but also potentially their occupation if the state does not create a more permanent solution.”
The affected drivers include truckers, transit operators, and municipal workers with immigration statuses such as DACA recipients, Temporary Protected Status holders, asylum seekers, and others who previously met state and federal requirements to operate commercial vehicles.
The lawsuit challenged abrupt cancellations of commercial driver’s licenses that the coalition said were influenced by federal pressure.
The ruling comes amid broader legal scrutiny over state compliance with federal immigration directives. While the U.S. Supreme Court has previously addressed questions surrounding federal and state authority in immigration-related enforcement, the California court’s decision focuses specifically on commercial licensing procedures and the immediate impact on workers.
The Sikh Coalition and its partners urged the DMV to act quickly, automate corrections, and avoid additional fees or delays. They framed the ruling as progress but stressed that implementation will determine whether drivers can continue working without interruption.
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