Ohio Revokes Over 1,000 CDLs From Illegal Foreign Drivers
Ohio authorities are revoking over 1,000 commercial driver's licenses held by foreign nationals who failed to meet updated federal visa documentation requirements.
Charlie Norman, registrar for Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles, announced that approximately 5,000 truck drivers holding non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses will receive notifications that their credentials are being either revoked outright or designated as valid only until their current expiration date.
Bret Crow, spokesman for the Ohio BMV, confirmed that 1,200 truck drivers have already been notified of license revocations as part of the initial enforcement action.
The revocations stem from documentation originally submitted to the state BMV that no longer complies with updated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations governing specific visa categories. Foreign nationals holding non-domiciled CDLs are authorized to work in the United States but lack permanent residency status.
The 1,200 foreign truckers whose licenses were revoked had submitted documents that fail to meet FMCSA’s current requirements mandating H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visa documentation. Drivers who previously provided documentation that does satisfy the updated federal rules will receive correspondence stating their credentials remain valid through their listed expiration date.
Ohio officials made clear that the state will not resume issuing new non-domiciled CDLs moving forward, nor will it renew any existing revalidated non-domiciled licenses once they expire. Crow stated that the BMV has not yet finalized the complete downgrade list, with the 1,200 notices representing the first batch following initial review.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spotlighted Ohio’s enforcement action in a social media post, emphasizing that the foreign truck drivers could not demonstrate legal presence in accordance with U.S. government requirements.
They couldn’t follow our rules and prove they were here legally, so Ohio took action, Duffy wrote, adding that additional crackdowns are forthcoming.
In April 2025, Duffy warned state governments that failure to comply with President Donald Trump‘s executive orders concerning non-domiciled CDL issuance could result in federal funding being withheld.
The Transportation Secretary’s letter to recipients of Department of Transportation funding reminded states they have entered into legally enforceable agreements with the federal government. These agreements obligate full compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations, including constitutional protections, statutes governing free speech and religious liberty, anti-discrimination provisions, and controls on illegal immigration.
With information from Breitbart News
