Sikh Coalition to US Secretary Transportation, if Sikh drivers declared ‘out of service' for English language proficiency violation, they have path back to career once they improve English abilities
BATHINDA: Sikh Coalition, Sikh civil rights organisation, has sent a letter to Sean Duffy, Secretary US Department of Transportation outlining concerns with an executive order by US President Donald Trump administration on April 28, 2025, 'Enforcing commonsense rules of the road for America' truck drivers', detailing new English language proficiency rules for truckers.
In its letter Sikh Coalition has desired to ensure that roadside inspectors do not profile Sikh and Punjabi drivers as 'looking' like they don't speak English;
When Sikh and Punjabi drivers are subjected to roadside interviews, Coalition want to ensure that the inspectors assessing their English language proficiency do so fairly and objectively;
And if Sikh and Punjabi drivers are declared 'out of service' for an English language proficiency violation, Coalition want to ensure that they have legal recourse to appeal the decision and/or a path back to their career once they improve their English abilities.
The executive order states that proficiency in English should be a non-negotiable safety requirement for professional drivers. They should be able to read and understand traffic signs, communicate with traffic safety, border patrol, agricultural checkpoints, and cargo weight-limit station officers. Drivers need to provide feedback to their employers and customers and receive related directions in English.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting
Luxeartisanship
Buy Now
Undo
The order directs the department of transportation to issue new guidance to the federal motor carrier safety administration (FMCSA) outlining revised inspection procedures for ensuring compliance with the federal regulation requiring English language proficiency (ELP) among truck drivers.
Sikh Coalition, which was founded in the immediate aftermath of September 11, 2001, in response to a torrent of hate crimes, discrimination, profiling and bullying against Sikh community throughout the US.
'The Sikh Coalition is not opposed to common sense safety reforms—including the obvious fact that all truckers must have basic English language skills to drive safely in the United States. We are committed, however, to working to ensure that any new rules resulting from this order do not disproportionately or discriminatorily impact Sikh and Punjabi truckers', stated Sikh Coalition senior federal policy manager Mannirmal Kaur.
For further context, President Trump's executive order overrides guidance put in place back in 2016. This guidance limited the ability of roadside inspectors to conduct English language proficiency interviews. It also disallowed roadside inspectors from declaring individual drivers 'out of service' for not being able to speak English sufficiently.
The Department of Transportation is expected to roll out their new guidance by the end of June; we hope to engage them in a conversation about our concerns before then. In the meantime, we are working to update our trucker-specific 'Know Your Rights' resource to account for concerns related to this executive order and other policy changes, stated Coalition adding there are about 1.50 lakh Sikhs and Punjabis working in trucking industry, 90% of whom are drivers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Taiwan detects Chinese incursions near its territory
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected 11 Chinese aircraft and seven Chinese Naval vessels operating around itself as of 6am (local time) on Sunday. As per the MND, out of 11, six sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "11 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 out of 11 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." Earlier on Saturday, the Taiwanese MND detected 34 PLA aircraft, eight PLAN vessels and one official ship operating around itself. In a post on X, it said, "34 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 25 out of 34 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." Live Events Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday criticised Chinese state media for deliberately misrepresenting Taiwan's sovereign status, following reports that former US President Donald Trump reaffirmed the "one China" policy during a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi urged Trump during the call to handle the Taiwan issue with caution and warned against letting "Taiwanese separatists" provoke confrontation between the US and China. The report claimed Trump expressed support for maintaining the "one China" policy. However, Trump's public statements following the call focused primarily on trade. Writing on social media, he described the conversation as "very positive" and said a new round of lower-level trade talks would be held soon. He made no mention of Taiwan in his statement, instead highlighting progress on issues related to rare earth minerals. In response, MOFA said in a statement published by the Taipei Times that China was using "a recurring tactic" of distorting Taiwan's status to manipulate international perceptions and falsely claim consensus on the "one China" narrative. The ministry emphasised that Taiwan remains committed to preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and would continue working with allies, including the United States, to defend democratic values and regional prosperity.
New Indian Express
43 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Trump sends National Guard to Los Angeles amid growing protests against immigration raids
PARAMOUNT: US President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops over the governor's objections to Los Angeles where protests Saturday led to clashes between immigration authorities and demonstrators. The White House said in a statement Saturday that Trump was deploying the Guardsmen to 'address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester' in California. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, objected to the move and said in a post on X that the move from the Republican president was 'purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions.' The White House's move to dramatically ratchet up the response came as protests in Los Angeles extended into a second day where tear gas and smoke filled the air as protesters faced off with Border Patrol personnel in riot gear. In a signal of the administration's aggressive approach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened in a post on X to deploy the US military. 'If violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,' Hegseth said. Trump federaliSed part of the California's National Guard under what is known as Title 10 authority, which places him, not the governor, atop the chain of command, according to Newsom's office. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the work the immigration authorities were doing when met with protests is "essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California's feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens.'
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
India is the 5th largest economy, so it makes sense: Canada's Mark Carney backs PM Modi's G7 invite despite tensions
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended his decision to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 Summit, stating it "made sense" given India's economic stature and global role. Despite ongoing tensions over the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Carney stressed that diplomacy is necessary for advancing national interests. The move sparked criticism from Sikh groups, but Carney underscored India's strategic value and noted progress in law enforcement dialogue between the two countries. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Strong push from G6 countries to include India Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads PM Modi confirms participation A strained backdrop: Nijjar's killing and diplomatic rift Sikh organisations oppose Modi's presence Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Other guest nations at G7 2025 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has firmly defended his invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis , Alberta, from 15–17 June. Carney said India's presence is essential for discussions on global priorities such as energy security, critical minerals, and infrastructure partnerships.'India is the fifth largest economy in the world, effectively the most populous country in the world, central to a number of those supply chains at the heart of a number of those supply chains, so it makes sense,' Carney said in a media interaction on G7 Summit will focus on pressing international concerns including artificial intelligence, climate action, digital development, and cooperation with emerging Nadjibulla, Vice President of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, added that the decision to include India wasn't solely Canada's.'In terms of the G7, we are the outlier because the other six members of the G7 are interested in deepening their strategic partnerships with India, deepening their defence technology and economic ties. In fact, every day there is a new announcement about either France or UK or US doing more with India,' she told CBC News continued, 'So having India there also matters to everybody else. I think there was a strong push from other G6 to have India at the table. And I think in order for Canada also to be able to show relevance on the world stage, we can't just engage in diplomacy with those whom we like. I mean, this is not… diplomacy is not a gift to our friends. It's not a concession. It's a necessary tool to be able to advance our interests and defend our values, right?'Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation, expressing appreciation in a post on X. 'Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark J Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit.'This invitation comes at a time when India–Canada ties remain deeply strained. Tensions escalated after the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar , a Canadian citizen and vocal pro-Khalistan activist, outside a gurdwara in authorities accused Indian agents of involvement, a charge India categorically denied. The result was a diplomatic standoff, with both countries expelling senior envoys in a tit-for-tat asked whether he believed PM Modi was linked to Nijjar's murder, Carney declined to speculate. 'There is a legal process that is literally underway and quite advanced in Canada… It's never appropriate to make comments with respect to those legal processes,' he Indian nationals have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder, and investigations World Sikh Organization has criticised the decision to invite Modi. Its president, Dinesh Singh, told The Guardian, 'This is a betrayal, not just of our community, but core Canadian values.'These reactions underscore a larger discontent among Sikh Canadians who have accused Ottawa of ignoring community concerns in favour of geopolitical the rift, Carney said there had been some improvement in bilateral cooperation. 'In addition, bilaterally we have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement to law enforcement dialogue so there's been some progress on that recognises issues of accountability. I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context and he has accepted.'Carney also noted that inviting India to such global platforms helps Canada maintain relevance isn't the only non-G7 country invited to this year's summit. Canada has also extended invitations to:South African President Cyril RamaphosaAustralian Prime Minister Anthony AlbaneseUkrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyMexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (pending confirmation)For Carney and his G7 counterparts, engaging with India appears to be a strategic necessity, regardless of domestic backlash. As the summit approaches, New Delhi's role in global supply chains and economic governance seems to outweigh diplomatic this G7 appearance eases bilateral tensions or deepens divisions at home remains to be seen. But for now, both sides appear to have chosen pragmatism over grievance.
