Comment from Chrstine Padernal

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my support for allowing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to obtain and operate under a Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). DACA recipients have consistently demonstrated that they are responsible, law abiding individuals. Every time they renew their DACA status, they undergo extensive background checks conducted by the federal government. Their criminal history and eligibility are reviewed before renewal is approved. This process helps ensure that DACA recipients remain in good standing and continue to meet federal requirements. DACA recipients also come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including healthcare, education, construction, logistics, and other essential industries. They are not a single uniform group, but individuals who contribute in different ways to the workforce and to their communities. Because of this diversity, it is important that policies evaluate individuals based on their own qualifications, training, and conduct rather than applying broad restrictions to an entire group. Concerns about safety should be addressed by focusing on individual responsibility. If an issue arises involving a driver, accountability should fall on the specific individual involved, not on others who share the same immigration status but have no connection to the incident. Public safety is best protected when each person is evaluated and held responsible for their own actions. To obtain a commercial driver’s license, applicants must pass written knowledge exams, skills tests, medical examinations, and meet federal and state commercial driving requirements. They must also demonstrate English proficiency by reading traffic signs, understanding safety regulations, and communicating effectively with law enforcement, employers, and the public. These requirements help ensure that only qualified individuals are licensed to operate commercial vehicles. If additional reassurance is needed regarding public safety, DACA recipients should be given the opportunity to demonstrate their qualifications by retaking the written and driving skills examinations for a Class B CDL or completing any additional safety evaluations that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration believes are appropriate. This approach evaluates drivers based on their actual knowledge and skills. Many DACA recipients have lived in the United States for most of their lives, contribute to their communities, pay taxes, and work in essential industries. Allowing qualified DACA recipients to obtain a Class B CDL would help address workforce shortages while maintaining the same rigorous safety standards expected of every commercial driver. Public safety is best protected by ensuring that every commercial driver is properly trained, tested, medically qualified, and held to the same licensing standards. If a DACA recipient can successfully meet or exceed those standards, including passing any additional testing that may be required, they should have the opportunity to earn and maintain a Class B CDL. I respectfully urge policymakers to consider a fair and evidence based approach that evaluates individuals on their qualifications and driving abilities rather than their immigration status. Providing qualified DACA recipients with the opportunity to obtain a Class B CDL benefits hardworking individuals, employers, and communities while preserving the high safety standards that protect everyone on our roads. Thank you for your time and consideration.