Port staff and industry members told the Port of Entry Advisory Committee that the U.S. consulate in Nuevo Laredo has begun requiring English‑language responses for transfer‑driver visa interviews, a change staff said took effect Sept. 1 and requires applicants to answer roughly 80% of questions in English.

Committee members said transfer drivers perform a majority of short‑haul border movements that support warehouses, distribution centers and U.S. carriers that do not enter Mexico. Port staff and an industry speaker said about 70% of daily crossings rely on transfer drivers; staff and industry said they have sent letters to federal and state officials seeking relief or clarification and asked the committee to coordinate further outreach.

Why it matters: Committee members said the change could shrink the pool of transfer drivers, affecting day‑to‑day border operations and local logistics firms that rely on cross‑border transfers. Members stressed they are not opposing English proficiency for long‑haul drivers but are asking for an exemption for drivers who operate exclusively within the border zone.

What was said

Port staff explained that, before Sept. 1, consular interviews for transfer drivers in the border zone were conducted in Spanish. Staff said the Department of State’s instruction now requires interviews to be conducted in English in Nuevo Laredo and that failure to achieve the stated English threshold can lead to visa denial or cancellation. Staff reported that, since the change, “maybe 20–30 visas” had been denied or canceled; they warned this number could grow as renewals cycle.

Staff said they and local industry have sent letters to Department of State and congressional offices and are coordinating with CBP and other federal contacts to seek a policy fix or an explicit border‑zone exemption. A committee member said a contact at CBP headquarters was provided during a recent Washington meeting.

Committee action

Committee members recorded the issue for follow‑up and asked staff to continue outreach to the Department of State and federal partners. The committee did not pass a formal resolution at the meeting; staff reported existing letters and described continuing coordination with state and federal officials.

Next steps

Staff will provide contacts and follow up on federal outreach; committee members asked staff to brief them on any responses and said they will share additional documentation with federal contacts.