Marco Rubio
Politics

Rubio Freezes Work Visas for Commercial Truck Drivers After Illegal Migrant Kills Three in Florida

RNN Staff

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered an immediate halt to the issuance of new work visas for commercial truck drivers, citing serious concerns over public safety and the impact on American workers.

“Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers,” Rubio posted on X Thursday night. “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.”

The decision comes in the wake of a deadly crash in Florida involving an illegal immigrant from India, Harjinder Singh, who had obtained a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in California after being granted a work permit under the Biden administration. Singh’s illegal turn crushed a family’s minivan, killing three U.S. citizens. He has since been arrested for vehicular homicide and is under an ICE detainer.

California Under Fire

The tragedy has ignited a fierce political fight between federal officials and California’s leadership. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin blasted California for issuing Singh a CDL despite his immigration status. Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office fired back, blaming the Trump administration for allowing Singh into the country in 2018 and approving him for work eligibility.

Publicidad

“Hey, genius,” Newsom’s office snarked in a post on X, “the federal government (TRUMP ADMIN) already confirmed this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements — YOU issued him a work permit (EAD). As usual, the Trump Administration is either lying or clueless.”

But McLaughlin corrected the record. “False,” she wrote. “Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration on June 9, 2021.”

McLaughlin clarified that CDLs are issued by states, not the federal government, making California responsible for licensing Singh. “There is no national CDL,” she noted. “Sincerely, Genius.”

Growing Backlash Over Migrant Licensing

The Singh case has spotlighted growing concerns that lax immigration enforcement and state-level licensing policies are putting American lives at risk.

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Rubio’s move to suspend new trucking work visas is being hailed by advocates for border security and blue-collar workers alike. Many Republican lawmakers are urging further restrictions, including potential federal bans on issuing CDLs to non-citizens in sanctuary states.

With the Biden-era visa policies under renewed scrutiny, Rubio made clear the priority: “American lives and American jobs come first.”

The State Department has not indicated when — or if — visa processing for commercial truck drivers will resume.

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