As the Trump administration works to make our roads safer and prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining commercial driver's' licenses (CDLs), two national public employee unions are filing suit to block the new rules.

Last month, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced emergency rules that would limit the ability of non-citizens to obtain CDLs. The move came after several high-profile fatal accidents caused by illegal immigrants with CDLs, including a crash in Florida that killed three. That driver, Harjinder Singh, could not speak English and failed a road sign test administered after the accident.

Another accident, this time in California, killed three this week. That driver was also an illegal immigrant who was operating a semi while under the influence.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) called the administration's new rules "punitive."

Two national public employee unions sue Trump over immigrant drivers license crackdown https://t.co/9uuCiyuYGC

The employee unions challenged a rule implemented by Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy restricting foreign individuals from receiving commercial drivers licenses.

Commercial drivers licenses are used for operating large vehicles such as tractor-trailers and buses. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia allow unauthorized immigrants to receive commercial drivers licenses.

In California, more than 25% of commercial drivers' licenses were improperly issued, according to a Department of Transportation press release.

“The process for issuing these licenses is absolutely 100% broken. It has become a threat to public safety, and it is a national emergency that requires action right now,” Duffy said.

The unions argued these restrictions would prevent asylum seekers, refugees and DACA recipients from accessing commercial driver's licenses.