• The U.S. has halted the issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers.
• This decision follows a tragic crash in Florida that killed three people, involving a driver who entered the U.S. illegally.
• Marco Rubio stated that foreign drivers endanger American lives and livelihoods.
• The suspension aims to enhance road safety and enforce English proficiency standards among truck drivers.
• This move is part of broader immigration reforms under the Trump administration.

The U.S. administration has announced an immediate pause on the issuance of work visas for commercial truck drivers, a decision communicated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on social media platform X. This action was prompted by safety concerns following a deadly crash in Florida that claimed three lives, which Rubio characterized as a result of increasing foreign drivers on U.S. roads. "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," he stated, reflecting heightened national safety concerns regarding truck operations, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.

This decision follows a horrific incident involving Indian driver Harjinder Singh, who is reportedly facing three counts of vehicular homicide after making a reckless U-turn that resulted in multiple fatalities. Singh allegedly entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico and was found to have failed an English proficiency test after the crash, highlighting concerns over the qualifications of foreign drivers, as pointed out by federal officials and the Trump administration, according to India Times, CBS News, and Anadolu Agency.

The move is not solely specific to individuals from any particular nationality, as the State Department has clarified that this visa pause is part of a wider review of screening and vetting processes for all truck drivers entering the country. In addition, English proficiency standards that were phased out under previous administrations are being reinstated, a shift that may lead to the removal of thousands of drivers who fail to meet these language requirements, as observed by transportation authorities, according to India Times and CBS News.

This suspension illustrates the broader trend within the Trump administration to reinforce immigration policies, particularly focusing on potential risks foreign workers might pose, while addressing the chronic shortage of drivers in the U.S. logistics sector. The commercial trucking industry reportedly faces a deficit of approximately 60,000 drivers, making this situation particularly complex for economic planning and operational efficiency, highlighting tensions between labor shortages and regulatory enforcement as mentioned by Channel News Asia and Anadolu Agency.