Secretary of State Rubio Halts New Visas for Foreign Commercial Truck Drivers
By The Blog Source
On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. would stop giving out new visas to foreign commercial truck drivers. Rubio claimed the delay would safeguard "American lives and livelihoods" as authorities look into how migrant drivers have been able to drive 18-wheelers on U.S. roadways. He said this is because of an increase in accidents and competition with American truckers.
Rubio added that the visa suspension "immediately" goes into force. This means that the State Department can't give out licenses that let migrants work as truck drivers in the U.S., whether they are legal or not. He said that foreign drivers are "endangering American lives" and lowering the pay of American truckers.
The news came only a few days after an Indian national was said to have caused a collision on a Florida highway that killed three Americans. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy replied by making safety requirements stricter. For example, truck drivers will now have to pass additional tests to prove their English skills.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was urged by OOIDA on Monday, August 18, to halt states' ability to issue non-domiciled CDLs for interstate trade. Then, on Thursday, August 21, OOIDA wrote to forty-three states, requesting that they halt the issuance of new non-domiciled CDLs until program issues are resolved.
Rubio's action does not rescind visas that have already been granted. A lot of migrant truck drivers are working with a mix of permissions right now, such seasonal H-2B visas and B-1/B-2 visiting visas that are being utilized illegally for employment. Critics say that federal regulation has been too weak for years, and that states like California and Utah have given migrants licenses to drive trucks even though the federal government is worried about it.
On Thursday night, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a clear statement about a problem that isn't spoken about often but is becoming worse: the rising number of foreign truck drivers driving tractor-trailers on American roadways. Rubio said, "Effective immediately, we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers." He said that the rise of migrant truckers is putting American drivers at danger and lowering salaries for U.S. drivers.
The revelation comes after a terrible accident in Florida when an Indian motorist who couldn't understand road signs tried to make a U-turn across a turnpike and halted traffic, killing three Americans. The footage of the crash brought attention to what many regard as careless management of migrant drivers. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy both indicated they will do more to enforce safety regulations.
Rubio's comments brought attention to the often-overlooked importance that legal visa programs play in getting people to work in trucking. Foreign workers have been using a variety of federal visa types to enter the U.S. and drive trucks for a long time, not only when they cross the border illegally. Sometimes, seasonal H-2B visas that are meant for farming are used for trucking instead. People who have B-1/B-2 guest visas labor illegally. Reports say that E-2 investment visas and even F-1 student visas are now methods to get trucking employment.
Trucking corporations have long said that the U.S. needs more drivers, and they use this argument to get more foreign workers. But others who support American truckers believe the true issue is compensation, not a shortage of people who want to work. lengthy hours on the road, lengthy periods of time away from home, and stagnating income have made the sector less valuable. Rubio is hoping that by stopping visas, firms would have to boost pay and recruit American drivers again since they won't be able to get cheap foreign workers.
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