Safety Concerns Prompt US to Suspend Truck Driver Visas After Florida Crash

Following a fatal highway crash in Florida involving an Indian national, the United States has put a hold on issuing visas to commercial truck drivers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement, citing safety concerns and the impact on American truckers. Rubio stated the increasing presence of foreign drivers on U.S. roads jeopardizes American lives and undermines the economic stability of American truckers. The decision was triggered by a crash in Florida where Harjinder Singh was charged with causing the deaths of three individuals. Singh, an Indian national, allegedly entered the U.S. illegally and failed an English language test after the incident. The crash has become a political issue, particularly given Singh’s commercial license was issued in California. The Trump administration has placed responsibility on the state government, though Governor Newsom’s office has clarified Singh had a work permit from the federal government. Before the crash, Republican lawmakers had expressed concerns about foreign truckers, though without providing direct evidence of a link to increased accidents. In June, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered truck drivers to speak English.