Trump Administration Reviews Visas, Halts Truck Driver Visas Amid Immigration Crackdown
In a notable development, the Trump administration announced a comprehensive review of over 55 million valid visas issued to foreigners in the U.S. This move coincides with the immediate halting of worker visas for commercial truck drivers in response to a deadly crash involving an illegal immigrant in Florida.
Visa Review: Potential Impact on Millions
The U.S. State Department confirmed that the review process includes all valid U.S. visas, focusing on multiple criteria such as visa overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, and any form of involvement or support for terrorist organizations. All visa holders are subject to continuous vetting,
the department stated, adding that visa revocations have more than doubled compared to the same period last year.
The review will also encompass social media accounts, law enforcement records from the countries of origin, and violations of American law. This extensive vetting process could potentially affect millions of visa holders, including Brazilians, and could lead to potential deportable violations.
Halting of Truck Driver Visas: A Response to Safety Concerns
Simultaneously, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the immediate cessation of issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers. This decision follows a fatal accident in Florida, where an illegal immigrant truck driver, Harjinder Singh, allegedly caused a crash that resulted in three fatalities.
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,
Rubio wrote in a statement. This move has raised concerns about public safety and the impact on the livelihoods of American truckers.
Immigration Terminology Debate
Amid these significant actions, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the use of the term alien,
arguing that it is the technical and legal term used in the press to describe illegal immigrants. The department equated the term undocumented immigrant
with they/them
pronouns and criticized the left's open borders pronouns.
In a statement, DHS said, Next thing you know you will be calling burglars ‘undocumented houseguests.'” Federal law includes multiple references to the term
illegal alienor
alien" in describing persons who enter the U.S. illegally or without proper documentation.
Conclusion
As the Trump administration continues its strict stance on immigration, these latest measures have stirred up controversy and debate. The impact of the visa review and the halting of truck driver visas is yet to be fully discerned, but it is clear that the administration is determined to tighten immigration rules and regulations. The review of visas and the terminology debate highlight the ongoing complexity and contention surrounding U.S. immigration policy.