Standing With Sikh Truckers: Upholding Rights Of Legal Workers In America’s Heartland

Photo: SALDEF file photo

By Ajay Bhutoria

As the proud son of Indian immigrants who built their lives in Silicon Valley through hard work and unwavering determination, I have always believed in the American promise: that if you follow the rules, contribute to society, and pursue your dreams with integrity, this nation will welcome you with open arms. That’s why the recent federal rule change targeting immigrant truckers—particularly the hardworking Sikh community—strikes at the core of that promise. It’s not just policy; it’s a betrayal of the values that make America great.

In the wake of a tragic accident on a Florida turnpike, where a Sikh trucker from California was involved in a fatal crash that claimed three lives, the Trump administration has seized upon one heartbreaking incident to cast a shadow over an entire community. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s sweeping restrictions now bar immigrants with temporary work authorization—such as those with pending asylum cases—from obtaining or renewing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). This isn’t about enhancing road safety; it’s a blunt instrument wielded against legal workers who have every right to earn a living.

Let’s be clear: the Sikhs affected by this rule are not skirting the system. They hold lawfully issued Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), granted after rigorous vetting by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. These individuals have presented their asylum claims in immigration courts, attended every required hearing, and complied fully with the law. Many have passed stringent CDL exams, logged thousands of safe miles, and supported families while keeping America’s supply chains humming. For them, trucking isn’t just a job—it’s a pathway to the American Dream, one that accommodates their faith’s sacred tenets, like uncut hair and turbans, in a profession that values independence and resilience.

Sikh Americans have long been the backbone of the trucking industry. An estimated 150,000 Sikhs drive trucks across the U.S., with the vast majority hailing from California, where they’ve turned vast farmlands and bustling ports into economic engines. This community chose trucking because it offered dignity: the flexibility to pray five times a day, the open road to reflect on their heritage, and wages to send remittances home or invest in their children’s futures. Now, with licenses expiring overnight and no grace period for renewal, thousands face job loss, financial ruin, and the dismantling of businesses built over decades.

The xenophobia fueling this policy is as predictable as it is painful. The Florida crash sparked a torrent of racist vitriol online and on the airwaves—tweets mocking turbans, slurs hurled at bearded drivers, and conspiracy theories painting Sikhs as perpetual outsiders. This isn’t new; post-9/11, Sikhs were among the most targeted religious groups for hate crimes precisely because their visible faith makes them easy scapegoats. Yet, instead of condemning bigotry, the administration has amplified it, zeroing in on California as a punching bag for its progressive stance on immigration under Governor Gavin Newsom.

But facts don’t bend to fearmongering. Data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) paints a starkly different picture. California’s commercial fatal crash rate is nearly 40% below the national average—proof that immigrant drivers, including Sikhs, are among the safest on the road. In contrast, the ten states with the highest rates? All red states: Wyoming, New Mexico, North Dakota, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, and Mississippi. Measured per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, these figures expose the hypocrisy. If safety were the goal, we’d see nationwide reforms: mandatory advanced training, AI-assisted fatigue monitoring, and incentives for electric fleets. Instead, we’re punishing a minority community that’s already overrepresented in one of the nation’s deadliest jobs.

This isn’t safety policy; it’s immigration theater, timed to stoke division ahead of midterms and score points against “sanctuary” California. Immigrant truckers don’t just drive our goods—they sustain our economy. They haul produce from the Central Valley, deliver tech components to factories, and ensure shelves stay stocked during crises. Revoking their licenses doesn’t make roads safer; it creates chaos, shortages, and lost revenue. And for what? To appease a fringe narrative that “others” brown faces behind the wheel?

As someone who’s championed South Asian voices in tech and politics—from advising on Indo-U.S. trade deals to mobilizing AAPI voters—I stand unequivocally with these Sikh truckers. They deserve better than abrupt edicts that ignore their qualifications and contributions. We must demand a reversal: reinstate eligibility for EAD holders who’ve passed CDL standards, provide transition periods for renewals, and invest in holistic safety measures that elevate everyone.

To my fellow Americans: Remember that the trucker logging miles at dawn, turban tied firm and eyes on the horizon, is as American as apple pie—or in this case, perhaps a plate of saag paneer shared roadside. Let’s protect their right to work, worship, and thrive. The road ahead should be one of justice, not jeopardy.

(Bhutoria is a former advisor to President Biden, an advocate for immigrant rights, and a vocal supporter of equitable policies for South Asian Americans. The opinions expressed here are his own.)