Posted on 08/18/2025 10:08:54 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
As RedState previously reported, there was a deadly incident in Florida on August 12th involving a tractor-trailer whose driver tried to make an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike, which blocked the other lanes of traffic, which in turn caused a minivan that couldn't slow down to crash into its trailer.
Tragically, two of the three in the minivan died upon impact, while the driver later succumbed to their injuries. Videos showed not only the moment of impact but the driver of the semi, Harjinder Singh, looking emotionless while standing outside his vehicle as first responders frantically tried to reach the victims.
Four days after the incident, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Dept revealed that Singh, who is from India, had been in the country illegally since 2018, crossing over into the sanctuary state of California from Mexico, and that his Commercial Driver's License had been issued in California.
READ MORE: Truck Driver Who Killed Three Was an Illegal Immigrant, and Now Gavin Newsom Is Implicated
DHS wasted no time lighting up California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) upon learning the news, issuing the following initial statement:
“Three innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California Department of Motor Vehicles issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License—this state of governance is asinine,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “How many more innocent people must die before Gavin Newsom stops playing games with the safety of the American public? We pray for the victims and their families. Secretary Noem and DHS are working around the clock to protect the public and get these criminal illegal aliens out of America.”
Singh obtained a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in California, despite having no legal right to be in the United States. Governor Newsom put Americans' lives directly at risk by arming this illegal alien with the ability to operate a 40-ton killing machine on U.S. highways. This reckless policy gave Singh the keys and three innocent people paid with their lives.
Instead of owning up, Newsom's deranged social media team tried to put it back on the Trump administration and, incredibly, bizarrely claimed that issuing IDs to illegals actually made Americans safer despite what had just happened in Florida:
Hey, genius: the federal government (TRUMP ADMIN) already confirmed that this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements -- YOU issued him a work permit (EAD).
As usual, the Trump Administration is either lying or clueless.
p.s. @grok, who was President in 2018?
https://t.co/OHVnC3zS20 pic.twitter.com/raF7hFWGkb— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 18, 2025
Except the clueless ones, not surprisingly, are Newsom and staff, as McLaughlin pointed out:
False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021.
The state of California issues Commercial Drivers Licenses. There is no national CDL.
Sincerely,
Genius
For the record, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also weighed in, saying Singh should never have been here and stating that the trucking company should also be held accountable:
Illegal alien issued CDL by California. Doesn’t even speak English. Sanctuary policies are deadly.
Must hold the illegal alien accountable but also the other actors involved including the company.
https://t.co/GRCOkGJLI3— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 18, 2025
That said, for anyone wondering how Singh could get a CDL, considering a Social Security number is required, here's a good explainer from civil liberties attorney and California resident Laura Powell:
Some have been questioning how an illegal alien obtained a commercial driver’s license in California, since a Social Security Number is required by law.
If the alien makes an asylum claim, he can then apply for an Employment Authorization Document and a SSN, which makes eligible him for a CDL. (Of course, fraud is another possibility, but it appears this man obtained his license lawfully.)
I couldn’t find numbers on how many people are currently authorized to work in the United States through this method, but 45,750 were granted EADs in the first three months of this year alone.
Note that it is illegal under federal law to discriminate against someone on the basis of immigration status, so he could not be treated differently for having a temporary EAD.
States could make the requirements to obtain CDLs more stringent for everyone, but I don’t see any way for them to generally prohibit people in his position from obtaining CDLs.
The core problem here is the out of control asylum system.
Some have been questioning how an illegal alien obtained a commercial driver’s license in California, since a Social Security Number is required by law.
If the alien makes an asylum claim, he can then apply for an Employment Authorization Document and a SSN, which makes eligible him for a CDL. (Of course, fraud is another possibility, but it appears this man obtained his license lawfully.)I couldn’t find numbers on how many people are currently authorized to work in the United States through this method, but 45,750 were granted EADs in the first three months of this year alone.
Note that it is illegal under federal law to discriminate against someone on the basis of immigration status, so he could not be treated differently for having a temporary EAD.
States could make the requirements to obtain CDLs more stringent for everyone, but I don’t see any way for them to generally prohibit people in his position from obtaining CDLs.
The core problem here is the out of control asylum system.
https://t.co/3ZMRJqliwZ— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) August 18, 2025
Singh faces vehicular homicide charges. An ICE detainer has also been placed on Singh.
“Democrat politicians do not worry about going to prison.”
Does the name Blago mean anything to you?
L
This should hang around Newsome’s neck in relentless ads placed in all markets on all media for months.
And CA and the company that hired him.
The company needs to be sued for 100 million.
Gavin Newsom aiding and abetting not new.
WHAT CHARGES ARE GOING TO BE FILED AGAINST THE COMPANY THAT HIRED HIM?????
AIDING ABETTING HARBORING
If he went to prison it was because he pissed off and screwed other Democrats. Not because of any crime he committed. Hillary Clinton is a case on point.
I WOULD AGREE. A couple names besides the illegal driving the truck should come up next & one of them should probably be Newsom. If something really drastic isn’t done about this crap soon, it will only likely happen again very soon. The Indian driving the 18 wheeler tried to make a U-turn on an Interstate hiway? It killed two people. How dumb can you get? What’s the Sikh translation for “who cares”?... as that seemed to be the driver’s thought. Maybe if there was a couple (or more) very public hangings for stuff like this, then maybe someone would start paying attention & would care.
The only way to stop it is when some powerful politicians families are in those SUV's and it hits home.
During FMCSA’s interview with the driver, investigators administered an English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment in accordance with FMCSA guidance. The driver failed the assessment, providing correct responses to just 2 of 12 verbal questions and only accurately identifying 1 of 4 highway traffic signs.
“If states had followed the rules, this driver would never have been behind the wheel and three precious lives would still be with us. This crash was a preventable tragedy directly caused by reckless decisions and compounded by despicable failures. Non-enforcement and radical immigration policies have turned the trucking industry into a lawless frontier, resulting in unqualified foreign drivers improperly acquiring licenses to operate 40-ton vehicles,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We will use every tool at our disposal to hold these states and bad actors accountable. President Trump and I will restore safety to our roads. The families of the deceased deserve justice.”
As it should be. CA DMV needs some accountability for this, maybe freeze their program for a few years until they demonstrate proficiency with the rules.
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