The United States has suspended work visas for Nigerian and other foreign truck drivers. The move, announced Thursday, takes immediate effect.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision was made to protect American jobs and lives.
“Effective immediately, we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers,” Rubio declared.
“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.”
New Immigration Rules Under Trump’s Return
The suspension is part of President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration clampdown since returning to office in January 2025.
Foreign nationals from countries with high visa overstay rates or weak travel databases must now pay a bond of $5,000 to $15,000 before securing certain U.S. visas.
The bond policy is part of a 12-month pilot programme aimed at ensuring travellers leave before their visas expire.
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has also introduced stricter screening measures. Applicants must now disclose all social media usernames used in the past five years.
Failure to provide this information could lead to visa rejection or future ineligibility.
Safety Concerns and Political Tensions
The decision follows a fatal crash in Florida involving a foreign truck driver, which drew national attention and political backlash.
Officials say the driver, who entered the U.S. illegally, failed an English test and made a reckless U-turn that killed three people.
The incident has reignited debates about road safety and immigration, especially in Republican-controlled states.
According to the American Trucking Association, the U.S. faces a shortage of over 60,000 truck drivers. Yet, the influx of foreign drivers has stirred controversy.
Federal data shows that foreign-born truckers now make up 18% of the industry, with many coming from Latin America, India, and Eastern Europe.
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