The Trump administration has halted the issuance of work visas for commercial truck drivers, citing safety concerns and the impact on American jobs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision Thursday night, writing on X that the rise in foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailers on U.S. highways “is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.”
Under current rules, foreign drivers can obtain U.S. commercial driver’s licenses but must hold valid work authorization, such as an H-2B temporary visa or an EB-3 visa that provides a pathway to permanent residency.
The H-2B visa allows companies to hire foreign workers for up to nine months in seasonal or nonagricultural jobs, provided they can prove a labor shortage. The EB-3 visa lets employers sponsor foreign workers for long-term positions, granting them green cards valid for 10 years.
The administration’s move comes days after a fatal semitruck crash in Florida that killed three people. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is investigating both the driver and White Hawk Carrier, the trucking company involved.
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