U.S. halts work visas for foreign truck drivers, increases border device searches

August 21, 2025

RED FM News Desk

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that the country is immediately pausing the issuance of all worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers.

He stated, “The growing number of foreign truck drivers operating on American roads is putting lives at risk and hurting the livelihoods of American truckers.” The decision has taken effect immediately.

Meanwhile, new data shows that U.S. border agents are searching for mobile phones, laptops, and other personal devices at a record pace. Between April and June 2025, 14,899 electronic devices were searched — a 21% increase from the previous quarter.

According to the U.S. State Department, all visa holders are under continuous vetting. If any individual is found to have violated immigration laws — such as overstaying a visa, committing a crime, or having links to terrorism — their visa can be revoked, and they may face deportation.

Since Donald Trump returned to the presidency, the U.S. has tightened its stance on immigration and border security. Now, visa applicants are also required to make their social media accounts public for review.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have legal authority to request passwords from travelers and check messages, photos, and other data stored on their devices. If a traveler refuses to cooperate, they can be denied entry to the U.S. or even deported.

For Canadian travelers, immigration lawyers are urging caution. They recommend removing social media apps before traveling, disabling cloud syncing features such as Google Drive and iCloud, and deleting any cannabis-related photos or receipts, given cannabis remains illegal at the federal level in the U.S.

It’s also advised to use a travel-only phone or laptop without any personal data and to speak clearly and truthfully with immigration officers, with all documents ready.

Lawyers warn that even minor issues at the border can lead to long-term consequences, such as losing visa-exempt status or facing expedited removal.