New Mexico joined other states in announcing a pause on the issuance of and renewal of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) to certain non-domiciled foreign individuals in order to comply with federal requirements.
On October 2, 2025, the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) announced a pause on CDL and CPL issuance and renewal affecting foreign nationals relying on an Employment Authorization card to substantiate their authorization to work in the United States.
The agency will continue to issue CDLs and CLPs to foreign nationals who present a foreign passport with an approved I-94 Arrival/Departure record.
MVD said that currently, 204 CDLs and CLPs have been issued to non-domiciled individuals in New Mexico, and that the state is in compliance with federal requirements.
“Previously, 2022 legislation introduced on behalf of MVD added requirements for issuances of CDLs and CLPs to foreign nationals who demonstrate lawful status in the United States. That bill, HB144, also provided that any individual convicted of certain human trafficking offenses would be disqualified from carrying a CDL for life,” said MVD.
On September 26, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an emergency interim final rule (IFR) to tighten requirements on the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs in the interest of “public safety” and “national security.”
Other states that have announced steps taken to comply with FMCSA’s IFR include Texas, California, Oregon, and South Carolina.