Trapped Behind the Wheel: How New Immigrants Are Exploited as Truck Drivers — And Why This Can Lead to a T-Visa

As an immigration attorney, I’ve had the privilege—and heartbreak—of working with thousands of new immigrants who come to the United States with hope in their hearts and end up trapped in a cycle of exploitation. One of the most common yet overlooked groups facing labor trafficking in this country are immigrant truck drivers.

Yes, the very people who keep our supply chains moving. The people delivering your groceries, your Amazon packages, and the materials that keep businesses running. Many of them, as it turns out, are victims of labor trafficking. And many of them qualify for protection under the T-Visa.

The Immigrant Dream Meets the Trucking Industry

Newly arrived immigrants often don’t speak fluent English, lack familiarity with U.S. labor laws, and are desperate to provide for their families. That makes them perfect targets for shady trucking companies who dangle promises of high wages, flexible work, and even green card sponsorships.

What they often get instead is:

Grueling hours that far exceed legal limits
Pay that’s withheld or drastically reduced through fake fees and deductions. Immigrants do not know their federal and state employment law rights, and they are easily tricked into situations that make them trafficking victims.
Dangerous or illegal driving assignments.
Threats of deportation or blacklisting if they complain
Being misclassified as “independent contractors” to strip them of rights. No one explains how being a W-2 hired employee is a lot more lucrative for someone who is just starting out working in the U.S. Instead, these truck drivers are duped into being “independent contractors” with false promises of tax savings.
Some truck drivers who have nothing to do with ownership of their trucks and only work using the company’s trucks get duped into paying “franchise” fees.
Isolation on the road for weeks or months at a time; no collegiate relationships with other drivers are allowed.
Psychological coercion and debt bondage through false leases or expenses.
No compensation for job-related expenses
Not seeing your family for months at a time.
Unsafe working conditions

Sound familiar? That’s because these are the exact red flags listed under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which forms the legal basis for the T-Visa.

The T-Visa: A Lifeline for Trafficked Truckers

The T nonimmigrant status (T-Visa) is designed for victims of severe forms of trafficking, including labor trafficking. To qualify, applicants must show that:

They were victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons.
They are physically present in the U.S. due to that trafficking.
They have complied with reasonable requests from law enforcement (with some exceptions).
They would suffer extreme hardship if removed from the U.S.

Truck drivers who have experienced exploitation on the job often check every one of these boxes. But simply being mistreated isn’t enough. Applicants must prove the depth and impact of their victimization.

Psychological Trauma and Medical Evidence: Critical to Your Case

If you were trafficked or coerced into working under exploitative conditions, it is essential to document the toll this experience has taken on you. This is especially true in the trucking industry, where isolation, sleep deprivation, constant pressure, and economic control are used to break down resistance.

Many of our clients in this situation report symptoms consistent with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and chronic physical pain. Some have developed ulcers, migraines, sleep disorders, and stress-related heart conditions due to years of abuse behind the wheel.

To strengthen your T-Visa case, you should:

Get a psychological evaluation from a licensed therapist
Document all health conditions caused or worsened by the job
Explain how the trauma prevents you from returning to your home country
Show that returning would be a danger to your physical or mental health

A strong T-Visa application includes affidavits, medical records, therapist evaluations, and documentation of your working conditions.

Why You Couldn’t Just Quit or Leave the U.S.

One common misunderstanding people have is, “Why didn’t the driver just leave the job?” or “Why didn’t they go back to their country?”

It’s not that simple.

Many immigrant truck drivers were told they owed a debt, signed contracts they didn’t understand, or were threatened with arrest or deportation if they left. Some were literally stranded on the road without money or support. Others had their documents confiscated and feared retaliation.

Add to that the fear of ICE, language barriers, and a total lack of resources, and you start to see the full picture of coercion.

Remaining in the U.S. was not always a “choice” — it was a survival mechanism. And under T-Visa law, that context matters.

There are benefits to filing for a T-Visa and getting legalized through T-Visa in the US:

Faster processing times compared to asylum and even VAWA in many cases
Direct path to a green card after 3 years or upon completion of the investigation
Work authorization included
Can include qualifying family members (spouse, children, parents, unmarried siblings under 18 if applicant is under 21)
Access to federal benefits like housing assistance, food stamps, and healthcare
No need to prove a 1-year filing deadline, unlike asylum
Waiver of many grounds of inadmissibility, including unlawful presence or entry
You don’t have to leave the U.S. to apply
Safer option for victims afraid to testify – cooperation is required, but full courtroom testimony is not always necessary
Can apply even if currently in removal proceedings or have a final order of removal

Final Thoughts: You Are Not Alone, and You May Have Options

If you are a truck driver who came to the U.S. as an immigrant and experienced abuse, threats, wage theft, isolation, or psychological trauma from your employer, you may be eligible for a T-Visa. This visa doesn’t just offer legal status — it’s a recognition that you were wronged and deserve safety, stability, and a path forward.

But time is of the essence. These cases require thorough documentation and legal strategy.

Shepelsky Law Group is here to help.

If you or someone you know is in this situation, contact our office. Your story matters. And with the right support, justice is possible. Contact us today for your consultation to start your T-Visa journey!