A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week seeks to close a loophole allowing drivers present in the U.S. illegally to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
On May 1, 2026, Reps. Dave Taylor and Jefferson Shreve introduced H.R. 8640, the Non-Domiciled CDL Reporting Act.
Taylor says that states are not currently required to report to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on individuals who have been issued non-domiciled CDLs, resulting in “a dangerous loophole that enables illegal aliens to drive heavy commercial vehicles on American roads.”
The bill points to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online database called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE), which provides real-time data on an individual’s immigration status and U.S. citizenship information.
If passed, the bill would:
- Direct USCIS to grant FMCSA access to the SAVE system
- Require states to transmit non-domiciled CDL applicants’ data to FMCSA
- Direct FMCSA to run applicants’ data through the SAVE system to ensure lawful presence
- Direct FMCSA to report to USCIS if any non-domiciled CDL license holder has an unlawful presence in the United States
- Provide a report to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee containing information on how many non-domiciled CDL holders were flagged using the SAVE system and the state where the licenses were awarded
Several states including New York have recently come under fire from the FMCSA after a nationwide audit reportedly showed that they improperly issued non-domiciled CDLs.
“For too long, Democrat-run states have handed out non-domiciled CDLs to illegal aliens, demonstrating a complete disregard for the safety of American families on our roads,” said Taylor. “I’m proud to introduce this bill with Congressman Shreve to close the gaps in our reporting systems and identify illegal aliens who hold CDLs so law enforcement can get these dangerous drivers off our roads.”
“This is about public safety and basic accountability. If someone is being issued a commercial driver’s license in the United States, we should know they are lawfully eligible to receive it. Closing this gap strengthens oversight, enforces the law, and helps keep our roads safe,” said Shreve.