US Halts Foreign Trucker Visas After Fatal Florida Crash

Rubio: Foreign drivers pose risks to American lives and jobs

By Staff Writer | August 22, 2025

The Trump administration has suspended the issuance of visas for foreign commercial truck drivers following a deadly highway crash in Florida that has ignited political and public debate.

“Effective immediately, we are halting all worker visas for truck drivers,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X (formerly Twitter). Rubio argued that the rising number of foreign nationals behind the wheels of large tractor-trailers puts American motorists at risk while also threatening the livelihoods of US truckers.

Fatal crash triggers policy shift

The abrupt decision follows charges against Harjinder Singh, an Indian national accused of causing a crash that killed three people in Florida. Authorities say Singh, who allegedly entered the country illegally through Mexico, attempted an illegal U-turn before the fatal collision. Reports also state that Singh failed an English-language exam required for truck drivers.

The case has drawn national headlines and political reactions. Florida officials, including the state’s Republican lieutenant governor, personally escorted Singh back from California for extradition with federal immigration agents.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the crash “a preventable tragedy caused by reckless actions and compounded by systemic failures.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, however, pointed out that Singh had been issued a federal work permit while his asylum case was pending. California also confirmed its cooperation with federal authorities in transferring him back to Florida.

Political and immigration battlelines

The case has added fuel to the broader immigration debate. Republican leaders have long criticized the increasing number of foreign-born truckers, frequently linking them to rising roadway accidents. In June, the Transportation Department reinstated a requirement that truck drivers demonstrate English proficiency.

Although language testing for truck drivers has existed for years, the Obama administration in 2016 directed officials not to disqualify drivers solely for poor English skills. The Trump administration reversed that policy.

Changing face of the trucking industry

The trucking sector has undergone a dramatic shift in recent decades. Federal data shows that between 2000 and 2021, the number of foreign-born truck drivers in the US more than doubled, reaching 720,000. Today, nearly one in five US truck drivers was born outside the country.

Many of these drivers come from Latin America, with growing numbers arriving from India, Eastern Europe, and especially Ukraine. Industry analysts say the influx of immigrant drivers has helped fill gaps caused by a persistent labor shortage.

A recent study by altLine estimated that the US lacks at least 24,000 truck drivers, costing the freight industry about $95 million per week in delayed deliveries.

Broader visa restrictions under Trump

The trucker visa freeze is the latest in a string of immigration restrictions rolled out by President Trump’s administration. The State Department confirmed it has revoked more than 6,000 student visas since Trump returned to office—quadruple the number from the same period last year. Officials also noted that all 55 million valid visa holders are now subject to continuous security vetting.

Rubio has spearheaded these efforts, including ordering the review of applicants’ social media activity. He has also rescinded visas for foreign students who criticized US policy in the Middle East.

In addition, the administration recently suspended medical visas for severely injured children from Gaza after far-right activist Laura Loomer urged Rubio to block their entry, warning of what she called “Islamic invaders.”

Outlook

The decision to halt trucker visas highlights the intersection of immigration, public safety, and labor politics in the United States. While supporters argue the move will protect American lives and jobs, critics warn it could worsen the truck driver shortage and drive up costs in the supply chain.

For now, foreign commercial drivers face an indefinite freeze on entering the US workforce.