The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday that a truck driver, Harjinder Singh, who is accused of making an illegal U-turn that resulted in the deaths of three individuals in Florida, is in the country illegally. This revelation has ignited a contentious exchange between Singh's case and California Governor Gavin Newsom's office regarding immigration policies.
The tragic incident occurred last Tuesday when Singh made an illegal turn from the northbound lanes of Florida's Turnpike, approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of West Palm Beach, as reported by the Florida Highway Patrol. His truck's trailer obstructed the northbound lanes, leading to a collision with a minivan that was unable to avoid the blockade. The crash resulted in the immediate deaths of two passengers from the minivan, while the driver succumbed to injuries at a hospital shortly after.
As of Monday, much of Singh's immigration history remains unclear, including his country of citizenship and the specifics of his legal status. However, Florida authorities have stated that he entered the United States illegally from Mexico in 2018. It has also been revealed that Singh acquired a commercial driver's license in California, one of 19 states (including Washington D.C.) that issue driver's licenses regardless of immigration status, according to the National Immigration Law Center.
Supporters of issuing driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants argue that these licenses serve as a vital resource, enabling individuals to work, pick up children from school, visit healthcare providers, and travel safely without fear of legal repercussions. However, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, criticized the practice, labeling the issuance of a commercial license to someone in the country illegally as “asinine.”
In the midst of ongoing disputes over congressional redistricting, Newsom's press office engaged in a heated exchange on the social media platform X, asserting that Singh had obtained a work permit during the presidency of Donald Trump. McLaughlin contested this claim, stating that Singh's application for a permit was denied during Trump's first term in September 2020, only to be granted a permit in June 2021 under President Joe Biden.
Singh now faces three state counts of vehicular homicide along with immigration violations. Following the conclusion of his criminal case, the federal government has requested that he be transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It is worth noting that the area where Singh attempted the illegal U-turn was clearly marked for “official use only,” as indicated by the highway patrol. Video footage of the crash has been reported by Breaking911, and as of now, Singh is not listed in the St. Lucie County Jail. Public records do not provide any contact information or address for Singh.
