Background: On July 30, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) designed to raise standards on the Class I railroads’ use of foreign train crews operating trains across the Southern Border into the United States. This proposed rule change, when finalized, will protect American jobs as well as enhance rail safety and security on the American border.
A key provision of the new rule states: “Imposing both the ELP [English Language Proficiency] requirement and the 10 route-mile limitation at the southern border is appropriate and consistent with railroad safety, because railroad crews must be able to communicate fully and accurately when crossing into the United States, most notably with dispatchers and emergency responders during a crisis, as a safety-critical function. FRA has determined that the ELP requirement alone is not sufficient at the southern border to ensure safe operations in the United States and is therefore also proposing to impose the explicit 10 route-mile limit. “
After becoming BLET National President in May 2025, Mark Wallace, personally investigated the railroads’ use of foreign train crews with border visits in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona and meetings with BLET members who work along the U.S./Mexico border. Following that investigation, Wallace advocated for the Trump Administration to take action to protect jobs and boost safety and border security.
Outreach by the BLET president combined with union members reaching out to their Congressional representatives led to the DOT toughening English language requirements for foreign train crews operating along the Southern Border in December 2025. The July 30 announcement of the NPRM builds on the requirements established last year.
Statement: “When I became National President in May 2025, I made it a top priority to protect our members’ jobs at the Southern Border and expose the threat to border security. Trains originating from Mexico, operated by foreign crews were unable to communicate with dispatchers in English and the language barrier posed a hazard in the event of a derailment or other incident. Our investigation also revealed reports of the smuggling of narcotics and human trafficking by foreign crews.
“For too long, the rail security, public safety, and workforce issues along our southern border did not receive the attention they demanded. BLET and the Teamsters refused to accept the status quo. Together, we brought these concerns directly to policymakers and worked to make them a national priority.
“I want to thank President Donald J. Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and FRA Administrator David Fink for their leadership in standing with BLET members to strengthen border security, enhance public safety, and protect American railroad jobs.
“I also want to thank Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien for his unwavering support of the Teamsters Rail Conference and BLET throughout this effort. His leadership and commitment to protecting Teamster railroad jobs helped ensure these issues received the attention they deserved.
“It’s important to note that we have received broad bipartisan support in Congress on this issue from champions like Representatives Chris Pappas and Lance Gooden and Senators Ruben Gallego and Bernie Moreno and we hope to pass related legislation. In April, H.R. 8468, the Protecting American Railroad Workers Jobs Act of 2026 was introduced by Representatives Chris Pappas (D-New Hampshire) and Lance Gooden (R-Texas).”