US Visa Pause Impacts Indian Truck Drivers Following Fatal Accident

A recent fatal accident involving an Indian truck driver has led to an immediate pause on worker visas for commercial truck drivers in the United States. The incident occurred on August 12, 2023, in St. Lucie County, Florida, when truck driver Harjinder Singh made an illegal U-turn in a prohibited area, causing a devastating collision that resulted in the death of a minivan driver and two passengers.

Following this tragic event, Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced on August 22 that all issuance of worker visas for truck drivers would be halted. He stated, “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.” This decision has created significant concern among Indian truck drivers who have worked in the U.S. transportation industry for years.

Singh, who reportedly crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018, obtained a commercial driver’s license in California. This was facilitated by a California law enacted in 2013 that allows residents, regardless of immigration status, to obtain a driver’s license. The implications of this law, coupled with the recent accident, have sparked political debates. Some critics, including commentators from Infowars, argue that the current administration’s efforts to recruit foreign drivers have compromised road safety for Americans.

The recent visa policy shift aligns with a broader trend observed since the Trump administration, which has seen the revocation of more than double the number of visas compared to the same period in 2024. This crackdown on foreign nationals is part of a strategy to address concerns regarding public safety, as reported by Bloomberg.

While specific figures on how many Indian drivers will be affected by the new policy are not readily available, 1,490 H-2B visas for truckers were issued in the 2025 budget year, a slight increase from 1,400 the previous year. The North American Punjabi Trucking Association (NAPTA) estimates that there were around 30,000 Sikhs working in the U.S. trucking industry as of 2018, a number that may have risen significantly since then. NAPTA’s current membership stands at approximately 1,400, collectively owning around 9,000 trucks.

Raman Dhillon, CEO of NAPTA, explained the critical role that undocumented Indian drivers play in the U.S. trucking sector. “There is a severe shortage of drivers, and Punjabis are filling in that gap,” he remarked. The urgency of this shortage was echoed by Brent Allen, a transportation expert, who suggested that the visa pause should lead to the implementation of new standards, including physical exams and driver testing. He noted that the U.S. currently has far fewer commercial drivers than needed for daily operations, benefiting those already in the profession with increased starting salaries.

Indian-origin drivers are organized into various regional associations, such as NAPTA, and are also represented through industry bodies like the American Trucking Associations. These organizations advocate for issues related to licensing, worker welfare, and industry regulations, highlighting the significance of this workforce in the broader context of U.S. commerce.

The ongoing developments surrounding the visa pause and the implications for Indian truck drivers reflect a complex intersection of immigration policy, public safety, and labor needs in the United States. As the trucking industry grapples with a shortage of drivers, the repercussions of this policy will likely be felt across the sector in the coming months.