US halts worker visas for truck drivers after deadly Florida crash
Over 55 million US visa holders to face continuous vetting
DUBAI – The United States has paused the issuance of all worker visas for commercial truck drivers following a fatal highway crash in Florida involving an Indian driver.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Thursday, calling it an urgent safety measure to protect American motorists and jobs.
The move is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which includes reviewing millions of existing visa holders for violations.
Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) August 21, 2025
The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.
What triggered the pause?
The visa suspension comes days after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered a Department of Transportation (DOT) investigation into a crash on 12th August that killed three people. Harjinder Singh, the driver accused of causing the crash, reportedly attempted an illegal U-turn on a restricted access road. Authorities say Singh, who is in US custody, failed an English Language Proficiency assessment and was in the country illegally.
????????
— orange ???? (@orange4u28) August 16, 2025
3 died in a crash in Florida, USA, after a semi-truck made an illegal U-turn, colliding with a minivan.
A woman, 37, from Pompano Beach and a man, 54, from Miami died in collide. The minivan’s driver, man, 30, from Florida, was airlifted to the hospital, where he later died. pic.twitter.com/bz5qHqYLfX
DOT records show Singh held a full-term commercial driver’s licence issued by Washington state in July 2023, which officials now say he was not eligible to obtain. He later secured a limited-term non-domiciled licence in California in July 2024. Despite a roadside inspection in New Mexico after Duffy signed new enforcement orders in May, Singh was only issued a speeding ticket and not subjected to a language test.
How are rules being enforced?
The English proficiency standard has long existed in US law but was inconsistently enforced until Trump signed an executive order in April restoring stricter inspections. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration noted that Singh answered only two out of 12 verbal questions correctly and could identify just one of four road signs. Duffy said the crash highlighted systemic failures, blaming “reckless decisions and despicable enforcement gaps” for allowing unqualified foreign drivers onto US highways.
Who else is affected?
The suspension applies to all nationalities and is part of a wider security review. The State Department confirmed that more than 55 million visa holders will undergo continuous vetting for overstays, criminal activity, and threats to public safety. Violations could result in visa revocation and deportation. Official figures show immigrants make up around 16 to 18 percent of US truck drivers, with trade groups disputing claims that foreign workers are overwhelming the industry.