Overview

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an immediate suspension of issuing work visas to non‑U.S. commercial truck drivers, framing the move as a safety measure.
• Mexico’s foreign minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente said most Mexican cross‑border drivers hold B visas recognized under T‑MEC and should not be affected, with reports that the freeze targets E and H categories.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation has required an English‑language competency test for truckers since June under an April executive order.
• The American Trucking Associations supports the visa freeze and calls for more rigorous scrutiny when issuing commercial driver’s licenses to non‑residents.
• Shelters and advocates in Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez report mounting uncertainty and exploitation risks as migrants remain stranded in Mexico, alongside analyses showing the U.S. immigrant population has fallen by roughly 1.4 million in 2025.