US Suspends Visas for Foreign Truckers After Florida Crash Kills Three

(FLORIDA) The United States has suspended all issuance of worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers effective immediately, following a fatal Florida Turnpike crash that left three people dead and led to the arrest of Harjinder Singh, an Indian national now charged with three counts of vehicular homicide. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the pause on August 21, 2025, framing it as a public safety step and a response to concerns about how foreign drivers may affect American truckers and road safety. No end date has been given for the freeze, which currently blocks new work visas tied to commercial trucking jobs.

Authorities say the crash occurred on August 12 when Singh, who reportedly entered the United States illegally from Mexico, made an illegal U-turn. After the incident, he failed an English proficiency test. Officials also say he held a commercial driver’s license and federal work authorization issued in California. The case has triggered a broader review across agencies and added pressure on the government to tighten rules for commercial drivers.

Under the policy, the State Department has paused visa issuance connected to trucking roles, including visas in the H-2B category, which employers have used in the past to bring in temporary, non-agricultural workers. The Department of Transportation is reviewing any regulatory gaps linked to the crash, and the administration is enforcing an executive order signed by President Trump in April 2025 that requires strict English language checks for commercial drivers. According to officials, more than 3,000 drivers have been disqualified nationwide since these checks began.

VisaVerge.com reports that industry and immigration experts are split. Some praise the move as a needed reset. Others warn it could deepen a long-running driver shortage and push applicants to look to Canada 🇨🇦, Europe, or the Middle East for work. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has supported tighter oversight and training rules and welcomed the suspension, while several immigration attorneys caution that the decision risks unfair bias against all foreign drivers, including those from India, who make up a small share of the workforce in U.S. trucking.

State and federal agencies have also stepped up wider screening. The State Department says it is vetting more than 55 million current U.S. visa holders for potential deportable offenses, including criminal activity, overstays, and terrorism links. Officials have not said how long this screening will last or whether it will lead to broader visa restrictions beyond trucking.

Policy Changes Overview

• Effective immediately: Consular posts have paused new worker visas connected to commercial trucking roles, with no set end date. The current fiscal year ends September 30, but officials have not said if the pause will extend beyond that.
• Scope: The pause includes the H-2B path often used to fill seasonal or temporary non-agricultural jobs, a route some employers have used for trucking.
• English proficiency enforcement: Federal regulators are enforcing the executive order signed by President Trump in April 2025 that requires commercial drivers to have working English skills. Those who fail are disqualified.
• Investigation: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has launched an investigation into regulatory compliance related to the Florida crash.
• Expanded screening: The State Department is vetting millions of visa holders for possible violations.

For official policy updates, check the U.S. Department of State’s visa news page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news.html

Impact on Applicants and Industry

For foreign commercial truck drivers seeking U.S. jobs, the effect is immediate: new worker visas for trucking roles will not be issued until the State Department lifts the pause. This applies to both pending and new cases tied to trucking positions.

• Consulates can cancel or hold interviews and will not print visas for these jobs during the freeze.
• According to VisaVerge.com analysis, some Indian and other international applicants may be redirected to countries with active hiring programs.

Current visa holders are not directly canceled by the announcement, but they are part of the broader 55 million–person compliance review. People with valid status should:

• Keep documents current.
• Follow all U.S. laws and job rules.
• Understand that any violation can lead to removal, especially during heightened screening.

The trucking industry has warned for years about tight labor supply. The ATA estimated a shortage of 78,800 drivers in 2022, and industry groups warn that limits on foreign hiring can strain supply chains and raise transport costs.

• Supporters of the freeze argue that public safety must come first and that stronger training and language checks will reduce worst-case incidents on the road.
• Critics argue the policy punishes many for the actions of one driver and that better enforcement of existing standards, not a blanket pause, is the answer.

Employers who planned to recruit foreign drivers this season will likely need to shift to domestic hiring or change schedules. Immigration practitioners report heavy uncertainty because officials have not provided a timeline or detailed carve-outs. Without clarity, companies may struggle to plan routes and deliveries beyond the next few months.

Practical notes for employers and applicants

• Pending and new visa applications for trucking jobs are on hold. No new worker visas will be issued for trucking roles during the pause.
• English language checks for commercial drivers are in force nationwide. Those who fail will be disqualified.
• Federal investigators are reviewing the Florida crash and related compliance issues; more enforcement steps may follow.

Procedural pointers (H-2B process — paused for trucking roles)

The normal H-2B steps remain the standard for other jobs, but consulates have paused trucking visas until further notice.

1. Employers normally file Form I-129 with USCIS.
   • Official form page: https://www.uscis.gov/i-129
2. Workers normally complete the Form DS-160 online visa application before a consular interview.
   • Official form page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html
3. Employers also seek a DOL temporary labor certification using ETA-9142B.
   • Official form page: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/forms/eta-9142b

The Florida case and government response

The Florida case at the center of the policy shift continues through the courts. Officials say Harjinder Singh entered the country illegally, later obtained a commercial driver’s license and federal work authorization in California, and then failed an English test after the crash.

The government’s investigation will examine:

• How he secured documents.
• Whether lapses occurred at any stage (licensing, work authorization, testing).

Secretary Rubio described the suspension as addressing “threats to public safety and American livelihoods,” while Transportation Secretary Duffy has ordered a review of entry-level driver training and testing enforcement.

The politics are sharp: supporters say the pause protects public safety while agencies tighten checks; critics warn it deepens the driver shortage and fuels bias against foreign drivers.

Supporters include parts of the trucking industry and the Trump administration. Critics include immigration attorneys and some industry officials who say:

• The policy risks unfair bias, especially toward drivers of Indian origin.
• Better enforcement of existing standards, not a blanket pause, would be a preferable alternative.

Ajay Sharma of Abhinav Immigration Services believes the overall effect on Indian drivers will be limited because they make up a small share of foreign hires in U.S. trucking, but he expects more people to seek jobs in other countries.

What affected people should do now

• Families waiting on visa decisions should prepare for delays.
• Employers must adjust hiring plans and consider domestic recruitment.
• Drivers already in the United States should keep records clean and comply with all license and status requirements.

Officials have not said when the pause will end or what measures will be required to restart visa issuance for trucking roles. The debate will continue as the United States balances safety, labor needs, and immigration policy in the months ahead.