Texas DPS suspends issuing certain commercial driver licenses

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety said it is suspending issuing certain commercial driver licenses (CDLs), like non-domicile CDLs and all CDLs, to non citizens who are refugees, asylees or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, a Monday news release said. 

The suspension, effective Monday, comes after an emergency rule change by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This is also a part of the department’s commitment to keeping Texas roads safe.

This also impacts the issuance of non-domicile commercial learners permit (CLPs) and CLPs for non-citizen refugees, asylees and DACA recipients, DPS added. 

FMCSA said in a Friday news release that the rule is a “response to an ongoing nationwide audit” and “recent series of horrific fatal crashes caused by non-domiciled drivers.” 

The release said, in part, that non-citizens will “not be eligible for a non-domiciled CDL unless they meet a much stricter set of rules…”

You can read the full release from FMCSA here. 

DPS said it has never issued any type of license to asylum seekers who haven’t been approved for lawful presence. 

According to DPS, CDL and CLPs will not be issued, renewed or reissued if a customer falls under these categories: non-domicile, refugee, asylee or DACA. Customers with a pending issuance will not be allowed to continue any written or skills testing until the services for non-domicile CDL/CLP are reinstated, DPS added. 

In September 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott asked DPS to enforce English language proficiency requirements for commercial vehicle drivers on Texas Roads.