An immigrant suspected of causing a fatal crash in Florida is in police custody after fleeing to California. Now, Florida’s governor is asking how the driver got a commercial drivers license (CDL) in the first place.
Harjinder Singh illegally crossed the U.S. southern border in 2018, according to the U.S. Marshals. Singh was able to obtain a CDL in California.
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The event brought increased scrutiny to the process of granting CDLs to international applicants.
Singh allegedly made an illegal U-turn in a commercial truck on a Florida highway in St. Lucie on Aug. 12. Video shows a minivan crashing into the side of the truck at a high rate of speed, killing all three passengers.
Singh fled to California and was detained by U.S. Marshals on Aug. 16. He is facing three charges of vehicular homicide in Florida.
DeSantis questions California’s policies on undocumented drivers
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared on Fox News Monday night, questioning how someone who came into the country illegally was able to obtain a CDL.
“Where was the role of the company in all of this?” DeSantis asked. “I don’t think this guy spoke English. He clearly didn’t know what he was doing behind the wheel and yes, you shouldn’t be giving illegals drivers’ licenses. We don’t allow that in Florida. California does.”
Federal records show timeline of Singh’s immigration status
So how did Singh get his CDL license in California if he entered the country illegally?
Singh reportedly entered into the country illegally from India by way of Mexico in 2018. After being detained by federal authorities and processed for deportation, he told officials he was scared to return to India. This triggered “refugee” laws that allowed him to be released on a $5,000 immigration bond. In 2021, the Biden administration granted Singh work authorization.
According to Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, Singh later obtained a commercial driver’s license in California, one of the states that allows non-citizens to do so as long as they can prove they’re in the country legally.
“All applicants for an original, renewal, upgrade, or transfer of their CLP/CDL must submit proof of legal presence in the U.S. as authorized under federal law,” the California Commercial Driver Handbook states.
The White House blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom for California’s Department of Motor Vehicles issuing Singh a CDL.
Newsom’s press office responded to the White House on X.
“Hey, genius: the federal government (YOU) already confirmed that this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements, including that YOU issued him a work permit (EAD),” Newsom’s office wrote. “As usual, the Trump Administration is either lying or clueless. p.s. @grok, who was president in 2018?”
Florida attempting extradition
DeSantis sent Lt. Gov. Jay Collins to help facilitate Singh’s extradition to Florida, where he can be criminally prosecuted.
“I’m en route to California right now to ensure this individual is extradited back to Florida. Stay tuned,” Collins wrote in a post on X.
DeSantis said Singh will be criminally prosecuted in Florida and then deported. He added that ultimately, the case needs to go beyond prosecution and prompt action from Congress.
“But ultimately I think you’re gonna need the Congress to use the power of the purse and defund states like California that are sanctuary states and their similar cities,” DeSantis said on Fox News. “Because we’re trying to do the right thing and yet, we have to bear the costs from their misguided policies.”
It’s unclear when Singh is due in court.
