The United States has suspended the issuance of work visas for commercial truck drivers following a deadly accident involving an Indian driver. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Thursday, explaining that the pause was necessary to address safety concerns on American roads and to safeguard employment opportunities for domestic truckers.
Rubio emphasized that the growing number of foreign truck drivers operating heavy tractor-trailers posed significant dangers to public safety while also undermining the stability of the trucking workforce in the country. He noted that stricter measures were required to prevent further risks.
The suspension comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to strengthen regulations for foreign drivers. Earlier in April, Trump signed an executive order reinstating the enforcement of English-language proficiency standards for commercial truck operators, overturning a 2016 directive that had allowed inspectors to disregard English violations as the only basis for removing drivers from service.
The issue gained urgency this week after a fatal collision in Florida that resulted in three deaths. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration had launched an investigation into the tragedy.
Authorities revealed that the driver involved, Harjinder Singh, an Indian national, lacked both English-speaking skills and legal authorization to work in the United States. Singh allegedly attempted an illegal U-turn through a restricted access point meant for official use, leading to a crash that claimed the lives of three passengers in a minivan. He has since been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and was transported back to Florida from California to face legal proceedings.
Duffy cautioned that neglecting to uphold driver qualification requirements could heighten the risks of road accidents and place the public in greater danger.
