The United States is pausing all issuance of visas for commercial truck drivers, a decision announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. This action follows a fatal crash that has sparked safety concerns and political debate. Rubio stated that the growing number of foreign drivers operating large trucks is a threat to American lives and livelihoods of American truckers. The incident involved Harjinder Singh, an Indian national, who was charged with causing a fatal crash in Florida. Singh allegedly entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico and failed an English language exam after the crash. The case has been heavily politicized, particularly in Florida. The Trump administration has placed responsibility on California, where Singh obtained his commercial license. Newsom’s office pointed out Singh had a work permit issued by the federal government. Prior to the crash, there were efforts to target foreign truckers, but without presenting evidence linking them to more accidents. The demand for truck drivers has led to a doubling of foreign-born drivers in the U.S. from 2000 to 2021. These drivers primarily come from Latin America, India, and Eastern European countries, particularly Ukraine.
