The tightening of United States immigration and border-control measures is already affecting thousands of Mexicans due to the mass revocation of visas.
Among those affected are freight-transport operators who cross daily between Mexico and the United States and have begun losing their B1 visas.
Last June, the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) reported that approximately 20,000 visas had been revoked from Mexican truck drivers during the previous year.
However, in recent days, industry representatives estimated that the figure had risen to 25,000 documents revoked across the entire border.
Why is the U.S. revoking truck drivers’ visas?
Canacar had previously specified that one of the reasons cited by U.S. authorities was that some truck drivers failed to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English during inspections and reviews. As a result, the business organization even launched a training program to help drivers meet this requirement.
However, the conflict is now primarily related to allegations of cabotage, a practice that U.S. authorities consider outside the activities permitted for these operators.
Truck drivers report that U.S. agents conduct lengthy interrogations about their routes, trips, and movements.
The B1 visa allows certain business activities, but it does not authorize a foreign national to perform ordinary employment in the United States.
Truck Drivers Protest and Threaten Blockades
This Thursday, in Mexicali, Baja California, hundreds of truck drivers blocked the entry and exit of trucks at the New Port of Entry, which connects with Calexico, California, demanding an explanation for the cancellations and clearer rules allowing them to work in U.S. territory.
According to information from Rocío Galván, Radio Fórmula’s correspondent in Baja California, protesters claimed that on Wednesday, September 3 alone, 17 truck drivers lost their visas in Mexicali, although they do not know the total number of people affected along the border.
In recent days, other reports have mentioned at least 7 additional cases, prompting them to demand a dialogue with Mexican and U.S. authorities.
The operators say that the cancellations do not simply mean losing an immigration document, but also losing their primary work tool. Some have expressed concern about the impact the measure will have on their income and their families’ finances.
The operators warned that they will maintain their mobilization until they receive answers and guarantees regarding the conditions under which they can continue working. They also threatened to extend the blockade to other commercial ports of entry, such as Tijuana and San Luis Río Colorado.
What Is Cabotage?
Cabotage occurs when a foreign carrier conducts freight transportation between two points within the United States, rather than limiting its operations to transporting international cargo between Mexico and U.S. territory.
Truck drivers maintain that some of the situations resulting in visa revocations are based on interpretations of their routes and movements within the United States.
For this reason, one of their main demands is for authorities to clearly explain which activities they are permitted to carry out and which could result in the cancellation of their documents.
Business owners and representatives of the transportation sector have warned that the massive loss of truck drivers could affect the movement of goods between Mexico and the United States.
Source: mexicodailypost
