Indiana Strips Nearly 1,800 Noncitizens of Commercial Driver's Licenses

New law requires specific employment-based visas to obtain and maintain CDLs, sparking concerns over public safety and immigrant rights.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:39pm

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A dynamic, fragmented painting depicting the overlapping, blurred silhouette of a commercial truck in motion, rendered in bold, geometric brushstrokes of deep blue, charcoal gray, and bright orange, conveying a sense of speed and disruption.Indiana's new restrictions on commercial driver's licenses for noncitizens have sparked concerns over public safety, immigrant rights, and the balance of state and federal authority.Rolling Prairie Today

Nearly 1,800 noncitizen truck and bus drivers in Indiana lost their commercial driver's licenses on April 1 due to a new state law that narrowed eligibility, requiring non-domiciled commercial drivers to hold H-2A, H-2B or E-2 visas. The law, inspired by recent traffic fatalities involving noncitizen drivers, makes driving a commercial vehicle with a 'false' CDL a felony and imposes steep penalties on both individual drivers and their employers.

Why it matters

The new law has raised concerns from immigrant advocates about the impact on noncitizen workers and the potential for increased racial profiling, while supporters argue it is a necessary step to improve public safety on Indiana's roads. The issue has also sparked a broader debate over the role of state versus federal authority in regulating commercial driver's licenses.

The details

House Enrolled Act 1200, authored by Republican Rep. Jim Pressel, narrowed the eligibility requirements for obtaining and maintaining a commercial driver's license in Indiana. Previously, applicants could qualify by presenting REAL ID documentation and other forms of identification, but the new law requires non-domiciled commercial drivers to hold specific employment-based visas like H-2A, H-2B or E-2. The law also makes driving a commercial vehicle with a 'false' CDL a Level 6 felony, with individual drivers subject to a $5,000 civil penalty and employers facing a $50,000 fine.

  • The new law took effect on April 1, 2026.
  • In February 2026, a Kyrgyzstan national accused of entering the country illegally was arrested after a crash that killed four people in Indiana.

The players

Jim Pressel

Republican state representative who authored House Enrolled Act 1200, the law that narrowed eligibility for commercial driver's licenses in Indiana.

Todd Rokita

Indiana Attorney General who celebrated the state's status as 'the first in the nation to take this commonsense action' regarding the new CDL law.

Greg Dunn

Spokesman for the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, who stated that 'nearly all non-domiciled CDL drivers have lost their CDL privileges' due to the new law.

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What they’re saying

“'Too many of these illegal drivers have killed innocent people and made our roads less safe.'”

— Jim Pressel, State Representative

“'Indiana is taking a stand to protect Hoosiers against these dangerous drivers who are exploiting our laws and licensure process.'”

— Jim Pressel, State Representative

“'Nearly all non-domiciled CDL drivers have lost their CDL privileges with the passage of HEA1200. Those 1790 drivers were notified by mail.'”

— Greg Dunn, Spokesman, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles

What’s next

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans last month to add an English-only CDL testing mandate to federal regulations, which could further impact noncitizen commercial drivers in Indiana and across the country.

The takeaway

The new Indiana law highlights the ongoing tension between state efforts to regulate commercial driver's licenses and federal authority over immigration policy. While supporters argue the law is necessary to improve public safety, critics are concerned about the impact on noncitizen workers and the potential for increased racial profiling. The issue is likely to continue sparking debate at both the state and national levels.