US Pauses Visas for Truck Drivers After Crash

The United States has announced an immediate suspension of worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers following a deadly crash in Florida that claimed three lives.

The incident involved Harjinder Singh, an Indian national, who allegedly attempted an illegal U-turn with his tractor-trailer on Florida’s Turnpike, colliding with a minivan. The victims, traveling in a Chrysler Town & Country, were killed instantly after their vehicle became trapped under the trailer. Singh, who reportedly entered the U.S. illegally in 2018, now faces three counts of vehicular homicide.

In response, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared a halt to issuing truck driver visas, citing both safety concerns and economic impacts.

“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailers on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Rubio stated on X.

The tragedy has ignited political tensions between the Trump administration and California officials. The Department of Homeland Security accused California’s DMV of granting Singh a commercial license despite his immigration status. California Governor Gavin Newsom countered, arguing Singh’s federal work permit was issued during Trump’s presidency and pledged cooperation in his extradition.

The suspension of visas comes against the backdrop of earlier immigration-linked trucking regulations. In June, the administration reinstated an English proficiency requirement for drivers, reversing Obama-era guidance. Federal data shows that the number of foreign-born truckers in the U.S. doubled from 360,000 in 2000 to 720,000 by 2021.

The case has not only raised questions about road safety and immigration enforcement but also spotlighted the role of foreign labor in America’s trucking industry.