A deadly tragedy on a Florida highway has reignited fury over America’s broken immigration system — and this time, the spotlight is on California’s decision to grant a Commercial Driver’s License to a man who should have never been behind the wheel.
Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old illegal immigrant from India, is facing three counts of negligent vehicular manslaughter and deportation after causing a horrific crash on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce, according to Fox News.
Authorities say Singh was behind the wheel of a semi-truck and attempted an illegal U-turn, causing the trailer to jackknife and slam into a minivan — killing all three passengers inside.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Singh “crossed into the U.S. through California in 2018, and was arrested by Border Patrol two days later.” Yet he was never deported.
“Following his arrest on Sept. 20, 2018, near San Ysidro, California, he has been pending immigrant proceedings since,” DHS told Fox News.
The outrage escalated when it was revealed Singh was granted a Commercial Driver’s License by California’s DMV — despite being in the country illegally.
“Three innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California DMV issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License—this state of governance is asinine,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News.
Fox News Digital reached out to Governor Newsom’s office, but received no immediate response.
“How many more innocent people have to 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,” the DHS statement added.
After Singh’s 2018 arrest, he claimed he feared returning to India. That fear was affirmed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — and Singh was released on a $5,000 immigration bond.
DHS says Singh “does not have a serious physical or mental medical condition, has no known immediate relatives serving in the U.S. military and is not the primary caretaker of a person with mental or physical disability, a minor or person with a serious illness.”
They also confirmed he is unmarried, has no children, and is not a victim of trafficking or domestic abuse.
“After careful consideration of all factors and available records, Singh is considered a significant threat to public safety and is an exceptional circumstance warranting enforcement action due to the serious nature of his criminal history,” DHS said.
The Florida State Highway Patrol is actively investigating the crash. An ICE detainer has been issued for Singh.
“The actions taken by the Defendant while operating a commercial tractor-trailer are both shocking and criminal,” said Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner.
Singh is now in custody on homicide and immigration violations, and Kerner didn’t mince words about what comes next: Singh “will no longer be able to damage and destroy the lives of Floridians and visitors.”
“At the conclusion of his state charges, he will be deported,” Kerner said.
For critics of the current immigration policies, it’s another glaring failure — one that cost three innocent people their lives.
