The United States government has suspended the issuance of work visas for Nigerian and other foreign commercial truck drivers, citing safety concerns and the need to protect American jobs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy shift on Thursday, stating that it takes effect immediately. According to him, the increasing presence of foreign truck drivers on U.S. highways poses risks to citizens while also reducing opportunities for local drivers.
“Effective immediately, we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers. The growing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailers on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and threatening the livelihoods of American truckers,” Rubio said.
The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration clampdown since returning to office in January 2025.
As part of broader measures, travelers from countries with high visa overstay rates or weak travel databases will now be required to pay bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 before obtaining certain visa categories.
In addition, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has directed all visa applicants to provide details of their social media accounts from the past five years. The embassy warned that failure to comply could result in denial of applications and possible future ineligibility.
