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2h ago

U.S. Halts Work Visas for Commercial Truck Drivers After Florida Crash

Officials cite road-safety risks from foreign drivers under stricter English rules, with state licensing practices under review.

A photo released by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office shows the aftermath of the crash that left three dead. Inset shows Harneet Singh, who was taken into custody on August 18.
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Overview

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an immediate pause on issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers, framing the move as a public‑safety and labor measure.
  • The action follows a fatal Aug. 12 crash on Florida’s Turnpike; the driver, Harjinder Singh, has been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and was extradited to Florida on Thursday.
  • DOT and FMCSA opened an on‑site compliance investigation and say Singh failed an English‑language assessment, correctly answering 2 of 12 verbal questions and identifying 1 of 4 traffic signs.
  • Federal reviews have flagged how Singh obtained a full‑term CDL in Washington in 2023 and a limited‑term, non‑domiciled CDL in California in 2024, with attention on carrier compliance and recent roadside enforcement gaps.
  • The State Department says the pause aligns with a broader vetting effort reviewing tens of millions of visa records, while major trucking groups voiced support and called for tighter CDL and training oversight.