The United States has suspended the issuance of work visas for Nigerian and other foreign truck drivers, effective immediately, citing threats to American jobs and road safety concerns. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Thursday, August 21, 2025, stating, “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 policy, part of President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration clampdown since January 2025, targets visas like the H-2B for temporary workers, affecting roughly 1,500 truck drivers this fiscal year, per U.S. News. A recent fatal Florida crash involving an Indian driver, Harjinder Singh, who made an illegal U-turn, has fueled the decision, with officials pointing to language barriers and inadequate vetting as risks.
The suspension, detailed by the State Department, includes a review of screening protocols for foreign drivers and applies to all nationalities, not specifically Nigeria, according to Diaspora Digital Media. The American Trucking Association, while noting a 60,000-driver shortage, welcomed the move, emphasizing stricter standards, as did the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which dismissed claims of a driver scarcity. New rules also require applicants from high-overstay countries like Nigeria to post $5,000-$15,000 bonds and disclose five years of social media history.
The policy has sparked political debate, with Florida officials blaming California’s lax licensing after the Singh crash, while critics like Jeff Joseph of the American Immigration Lawyers Association call it a fear-driven tactic to bolster Trump’s base. The suspension, affecting a small fraction of the 3.5 million U.S. truck drivers, aims to prioritize American workers but could disrupt logistics amid existing shortages. The State Department insists the focus is on safety and economic security, with enhanced vetting for visa holders ongoing.
