U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an immediate pause on issuing work visas for commercial truck drivers, citing public safety and economic concerns.
Rubio stated that the increasing number of foreign drivers operating large trucks on U.S. roads is “endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.” The decision was prompted by a deadly crash in St. Lucie County, Florida, on August 12, 2025, where Harjinder Singh, an Indian-origin driver who entered the U.S. illegally in 2018, allegedly caused a collision by attempting an illegal U-turn, killing three people. Singh, who obtained a commercial driver’s license in California despite failing an English test, faces three counts of vehicular homicide.
The pause affects H-2B, E-2, and EB-3 visa classifications, as confirmed by a State Department spokesperson. This move aligns with President Donald Trump’s April 2025 executive order enforcing stricter English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers to ensure they can read traffic signs and communicate effectively. Federal and Transportation Department investigations into the Florida crash highlighted lapses in licensing and language enforcement, fueling the policy change. Florida officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis, criticized sanctuary policies and lax licensing standards, particularly in California, for enabling such incidents.
The pause aims to allow the Departments of State, Labor, and Homeland Security to update screening and vetting protocols, though its duration remains unclear. Critics, like immigration lawyer Nicolette Glazer, argue that few truck drivers receive work visas annually, suggesting the policy may have limited impact but could exacerbate the industry’s driver shortage, estimated at tens of thousands.
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