Worker Visa Suspension Impact: Due to the accident in Florida, USA, President Trump suspended worker visas for commercial drivers. Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora has reacted to this.
He has written a letter to the Central Government and appealed to the US Government for talks.
He wrote in the letter that after an accident in Florida by a Punjabi-origin truck driver, the US stopped the work visas of commercial drivers. This has put the livelihood of 1.5 lakh Punjabi drivers at risk. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy should immediately talk to the US government and get the visas restored. It is wrong to punish an entire community based on one incident.
Why was the work visa suspended?
Let us tell you that the Trump administration of the US banned the issuance of H-2B, E-2, and EB-3 worker visas for commercial truck drivers on August 21, 2025. The visas have been suspended with immediate effect. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited national security, road safety, and the protection of the rights of American truck drivers as the reason for the visa suspension.
He said that on August 12, 2025, a road accident occurred on the Florida Turnpike. A driver, Harjinder Singh, took a wrong U-turn in the middle of the highway and a car crashed into his truck. 3 people died in the accident. Upon investigation, it was found that he had come to the US illegally and was issued a driver’s license illegally.
These people supported the decision.
Let us tell you that H-2B (temporary non-agricultural work), E-2 (investor visa) and EB-3 (green card for permanent employment) have been suspended. Although the visa suspension order will not apply to current visa holders, new visas will not be issued and applications will not be accepted. The American Trucking Association (ATA) and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) have supported the Trump administration’s decision.
At the same time, some experts say that the Trump administration’s suspension of work visas could lead to a shortage of drivers in the US. The US is already facing a shortage of 60 to 80 thousand drivers. On the other hand, along with suspending work visas, the Trump administration has also ordered checks on non-resident CDL (commercial driver’s license). In April 2025, the order making knowledge of English mandatory for drivers was implemented.
