CLARO Statement Condemning Federal Block on Commercial Licenses for Work-Authorized Immigrant Drivers
The Center for Latino Advocacy, Resources, and Organizing (CLARO) condemns the Trump Administration’s effort to strip work-authorized immigrant Californians—many of them asylum seekers and DACA recipients—of the ability to earn a living as commercial drivers.
By blocking California from resuming the issuance and correction of commercial driver’s licenses for eligible “non-domicile” drivers, the federal government is punishing families and destabilizing essential work. Thousands of California drivers have received cancellation notices despite holding valid federal work authorization, leaving them and their families in limbo during the holiday season.
Let’s be clear: commercial drivers keep our economy moving. Our supply chains don’t function if food doesn’t arrive, goods don’t move, and communities don’t stay connected without professional drivers. Pushing experienced, tested, and licensed drivers out of the workforce does not improve safety; it creates chaos, invites exploitation, and pressures workers into impossible choices. This also invites autonomous vehicle companies to use this disruption to accelerate job elimination and weaken labor standards by replacing experienced drivers with automation before strong worker protections and public accountability are in place.
CLARO calls on the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to:
Immediately allow California to reissue and correct CDLs for eligible drivers who can demonstrate current lawful presence and valid work authorization.
End blanket, politicized targeting of “non-domicile” CDL holders and replace it with clear, transparent standards and individualized due process.
Provide public clarity on what fixes have been rejected, why they were rejected, and what specific steps must be completed—so drivers aren’t trapped in uncertainty.
CLARO stands in solidarity with immigrant drivers: Latino, Punjabi/Sikh, and all communities impacted who have followed the rules, passed the exams, and are contributing to California’s economy while their immigration cases proceed through lawful processes.
We will continue working with worker-rights organizations, legal partners, community advocates, and state leaders to demand a fair resolution that protects both road safety and basic economic dignity, and we urge elected officials at every level to treat immigrant workers as essential members of our communities, not political targets.
CLARO in 2026: Turning Advocacy Into Everyday Power
It all begins with an idea.
In 2026, the Center for Latino Advocacy, Resources, and Organizing (CLARO) is focused on one thing: making sure Latino families and working-class communities have real power in the systems that shape daily life—at home, at work, on the street, and at the ballot box. CLARO exists to close the gap between what our communities need and what institutions deliver by organizing people, building resources, and driving policy change that’s rooted in lived experience.
Our Mission
CLARO’s mission is to organize and resource Latino communities to win lasting improvements in opportunity, safety, and dignity—through practical services, community-driven advocacy, and civic engagement that moves from awareness to action.
Our Vision
We envision a future where Latino communities are not treated as an afterthought, a voting bloc, or a statistic—but as decision-makers and builders. CLARO’s vision is a California where families have access to reliable internet and digital tools, workers are protected and respected, neighborhoods are safe without being over-policed, youth have pathways to leadership, and communities shape the development and transportation decisions that affect their lives.
Action Items for 2026
This year, CLARO is putting our vision into motion with a clear set of priorities:
1) Expand digital equity and opportunity
Strengthen digital inclusion programming through computer access, digital literacy, and broadband adoption support
Partner with trusted local spaces to run community-based tech labs and workshops
Help families navigate affordable connectivity options and online services (school, jobs, healthcare, benefits)
2) Advance transportation justice and community safety
Organize around safe streets, reliable transit access, and accountability in transportation planning
Support community-led planning that prioritizes residents over displacement pressures
Build coalitions to advocate for investments that reduce harm and improve quality of life
3) Grow CLARO’s infrastructure for long-term impact
Develop strong governance, partnerships, and sustainable fundraising
Publish regular updates, transparent goals, and measurable outcomes
Create a strategy for civic engagement that builds lasting participation beyond election seasons
A Call to Join Us
CLARO’s work in 2026 is about building something durable: relationships, leadership, and community systems that don’t disappear when funding cycles shift or headlines change. If you’ve ever felt like decisions are made about your community instead of with your community—CLARO is your home for taking action.