In a bold move to prioritize public safety and defend American workers, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered an immediate freeze on all worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers.
The announcement came just days after a tragic accident in Florida on August 12, where a tractor-trailer—driven by Harjinder Singh, an Indian national reportedly in the country illegally—crashed, causing multiple fatalities. Singh had allegedly failed an English proficiency test and should not have been licensed to drive commercially in the United States. Yet, despite being ineligible, he managed to obtain commercial driver’s licenses in both Washington and California.
Rubio didn’t mince words when he made the announcement: “We are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers.” He warned that foreign drivers are increasingly operating massive rigs on American roads, putting lives at risk and stealing opportunities from hardworking American truckers.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed Rubio’s concerns, calling the breakdown in state-level licensing oversight “despicable.” He stressed that if English-language and eligibility requirements had been properly enforced, this crash could have been prevented.
The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on how an ineligible driver slipped through the cracks in multiple states.
Even the American Trucking Associations, which has often highlighted labor shortages in the industry, backed the pause. They urged better enforcement of licensing rules for non-U.S. drivers and stricter oversight from state agencies.
This isn’t the first time the issue has surfaced. The Trump administration had previously strengthened English language requirements for commercial drivers, recognizing the basic truth: clear communication is essential for safety on American highways.
Some critics worry the visa freeze could add pressure to already strained supply chains. But in Rubio’s view—and that of many Americans—no economic convenience is worth the cost of a human life. Safety and sovereignty must come first.
This is more than a policy tweak. It’s a powerful reminder that leadership means taking action before tragedy strikes again. For too long, the system has looked the other way. Now, thanks to Rubio’s leadership, the barn door is finally shut—and not a moment too soon.
- Article Source:
Red State
- Photo: Tom Jackson / unsplash.com
