After tightening US visa rules for H1B workers and international students, and launching large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that have led to the detention and deportation of thousands of immigrants, US President Donald Trump has now turned his attention to the trucking industry. He said his administration is cracking down on unauthorised immigrant truck drivers and wants to replace them with American military veterans.&nbsp;Trump blamed immigrant truck drivers for road accidents, claiming many of them are unable to read road signs and are under the influence of drugs. He alleged that they are "killing a lot of people."However, there is no comprehensive study linking immigrant truck drivers specifically to a higher number of road accidents. Foreign nationals seeking to drive commercial trucks in the United States must have valid work authorisation and complete the same licensing process as any other American driver, including attending driving school and passing the required tests.&nbsp;The President also announced that "any American who has driven a heavy truck for our military will automatically be eligible for a commercial driver's license." He, however, did not provide further details about how the proposal would be implemented.&nbsp;Trump's remarks, made during a military investment summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, appeared to reflect a broader push by his administration to curb commercial driving opportunities for immigrants, including those who are legally residing in the country. According to The New York Times, around 200,000 immigrant drivers who were authorised to live and work in the United States lost their licences in March.&nbsp;In April 2025, Trump signed an executive order directing the Transportation Department to enforce English language requirements for commercial drivers and review the licences of foreign citizens authorised to work in the United States.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-of-magnitude-7-4-jolts-mexico-tsunami-warning-issued-1784301406792">Earthquake of magnitude 7.3 jolts Mexico, tsunami warning issued</a><h2>Indian-origin truck drivers could face a major impact</h2>If Trump moves ahead with the proposal, it could affect more than 1.5 lakh Indian origin truck drivers working in the United States, potentially forcing many to switch professions or face deportation to India.&nbsp;According to the North American Punjabi Truckers Association, around 1.3 lakh to 1.5 lakh truck drivers in the United States are from Punjab and Haryana. The community has already been affected by earlier policy changes, including mandatory English proficiency requirements and the recently enacted Dalilah Law, which halted the issuance of commercial driver's licences to immigrants, according to India Today.

Trump has proposed replacing immigrant truck drivers with US Army veterans as part of his latest immigration crackdown, a move that could affect more than 1.5 lakh Indian-origin drivers working in the United States.

After tightening US visa rules for H1B workers and international students, and launching large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that have led to the detention and deportation of thousands of immigrants, US President Donald Trump has now turned his attention to the trucking industry. He said his administration is cracking down on unauthorised immigrant truck drivers and wants to replace them with American military veterans. Trump blamed immigrant truck drivers for road accidents, claiming many of them are unable to read road signs and are under the influence of drugs. He alleged that they are "killing a lot of people." However, there is no comprehensive study linking immigrant truck drivers specifically to a higher number of road accidents. Foreign nationals seeking to drive commercial trucks in the United States must have valid work authorisation and complete the same licensing process as any other American driver, including attending driving school and passing the required tests. The President also announced that "any American who has driven a heavy truck for our military will automatically be eligible for a commercial driver's license." He, however, did not provide further details about how the proposal would be implemented. Trump's remarks, made during a military investment summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, appeared to reflect a broader push by his administration to curb commercial driving opportunities for immigrants, including those who are legally residing in the country. According to The New York Times, around 200,000 immigrant drivers who were authorised to live and work in the United States lost their licences in March. In April 2025, Trump signed an executive order directing the Transportation Department to enforce English language requirements for commercial drivers and review the licences of foreign citizens authorised to work in the United States. Also Read: Earthquake of magnitude 7.3 jolts Mexico, tsunami warning issued Indian-origin truck drivers could face a major impact If Trump moves ahead with the proposal, it could affect more than 1.5 lakh Indian origin truck drivers working in the United States, potentially forcing many to switch professions or face deportation to India. According to the North American Punjabi Truckers Association, around 1.3 lakh to 1.5 lakh truck drivers in the United States are from Punjab and Haryana. The community has already been affected by earlier policy changes, including mandatory English proficiency requirements and the recently enacted Dalilah Law, which halted the issuance of commercial driver's licences to immigrants, according to India Today.

Trump has proposed replacing immigrant truck drivers with US Army veterans as part of his latest immigration crackdown, a move that could affect more than 1.5 lakh Indian-origin drivers working in the United States.

Trump's proposal to replace immigrant truckers with Army veterans may hit over 1.5 lakh Indian drivers

The number of immigrant detainees dying by suicide in the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody has surged to an “alarming” level, according to an investigation by the Associated Press (AP), raising serious concerns over mental health care and detention conditions under President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation strategy. The investigation found that at least 10 ICE detainees, all men, have died by suicide since Trump returned to office in January 2025. The pace of deaths far exceeds the growth in the detainee population, based on a review of ICE data, autopsy reports, police records and coroner rulings.&nbsp;Among the deaths was that of 27-year-old Brayan Rayo Garzon, who died in April 2025 while being held in isolation at a Missouri jail after contracting COVID-19. According to jail records reviewed by AP, Rayo had repeatedly sought mental health treatment while suffering from fever and chills.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/indian-techie-with-h1-b-visa-deported-and-humiliated-by-ice-here-is-what-infosys-said-1768457903335">Indian techie with H1-B visa deported and humiliated by ICE? Here is what Infosys said</a>&nbsp;The records also showed that detention staff prevented him from making his nightly phone call to his mother, citing measures intended to curb the spread of illness. In handwritten notes in Spanish, Rayo pleaded with guards to allow him to speak with her. “I feel in my heart that she’s very worried about me,” he wrote.&nbsp;A guard reportedly collected the note and walked away. Less than an hour later, Rayo was found unconscious in his cell. An autopsy later ruled his death a suicide. Public health experts and jail oversight specialists told AP that the sudden increase in suicides points to serious failures in detention oversight and mental health care for migrants held in ICE facilities across the country.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-trump-s-presidency-more-migrants-are-dying-in-ice-detention-1768384795679">In Trump's presidency more migrants are dying in ICE detention</a>&nbsp;Since October 2024, seven detainee deaths have officially been classified as suicides, already making it the deadliest fiscal year for suicides in ICE detention history. Historically, ICE has recorded either one or no suicide deaths annually.

An AP investigation reveals an alarming surge in ICE detainee suicides under President Trump’s aggressive deportation strategy, exposing severe failures in oversight, isolation policies, and mental health care.

The number of immigrant detainees dying by suicide in the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody has surged to an “alarming” level, according to an investigation by the Associated Press (AP), raising serious concerns over mental health care and detention conditions under President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation strategy. The investigation found that at least 10 ICE detainees, all men, have died by suicide since Trump returned to office in January 2025. The pace of deaths far exceeds the growth in the detainee population, based on a review of ICE data, autopsy reports, police records and coroner rulings. Among the deaths was that of 27-year-old Brayan Rayo Garzon, who died in April 2025 while being held in isolation at a Missouri jail after contracting COVID-19. According to jail records reviewed by AP, Rayo had repeatedly sought mental health treatment while suffering from fever and chills. Also read: Indian techie with H1-B visa deported and humiliated by ICE? Here is what Infosys said The records also showed that detention staff prevented him from making his nightly phone call to his mother, citing measures intended to curb the spread of illness. In handwritten notes in Spanish, Rayo pleaded with guards to allow him to speak with her. “I feel in my heart that she’s very worried about me,” he wrote. A guard reportedly collected the note and walked away. Less than an hour later, Rayo was found unconscious in his cell. An autopsy later ruled his death a suicide. Public health experts and jail oversight specialists told AP that the sudden increase in suicides points to serious failures in detention oversight and mental health care for migrants held in ICE facilities across the country. Also read: In Trump's presidency more migrants are dying in ICE detention Since October 2024, seven detainee deaths have officially been classified as suicides, already making it the deadliest fiscal year for suicides in ICE detention history. Historically, ICE has recorded either one or no suicide deaths annually.

An AP investigation reveals an alarming surge in ICE detainee suicides under President Trump’s aggressive deportation strategy, exposing severe failures in oversight, isolation policies, and mental health care.

ICE detainees die by suicide at alarming rate since Trump returned to office, says report

us-immigration-ice

Us Immigration Ice, News on Us Immigration Ice, stories on Us Immigration Ice, articles on Us Immigration Ice, Us Immigration Ice stories at Wion, Us Immigration Ice news, Us Immigration Ice latest news

us immigration-ice

Trump's proposal to replace immigrant truckers with Army veterans may hit over 1.5 lakh Indian drivers

ICE detainees die by suicide at alarming rate since Trump returned to WH: Report