An illegal immigrant truck driver accused of causing a fatal crash in Florida last week received a work permit from the Biden administration after being denied one under the Trump administration, according to federal officials.
Harjinder Singh, identified as the driver involved in the incident, was arrested in Stockton, California. He faces three counts of vehicular homicide following a crash on Florida’s Turnpike near Fort Pierce that resulted in three deaths. Authorities say Singh made an illegal U-turn with his truck, leading to the collision.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles confirmed that Singh will be deported after facing state charges. “At the conclusion of his state charges, he will be deported,” said Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the department.
Singh reportedly entered the United States illegally through Mexico in 2018 and later obtained a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in California. The Florida Highway Patrol explained its investigation process: “State Troopers obtained a criminal arrest warrant for the driver, Harjinder Singh, for three (3) counts of vehicular homicide. During the course of this criminal investigation and with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), State Troopers determined that Harjinder Singh entered the United States illegally, having cross[ed] the Mexico border in 2018. The Defendant then obtained a Commercial Driver’s License in the state of California. Under the federal authority delegated by ICE to FHP State Troopers through the 287 (g) program, State Troopers issued an ICE detainer,” FHP stated.
Officials from Homeland Security clarified Monday that Singh’s application for work authorization was rejected during President Trump’s term but later approved under President Biden. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at Homeland Security, said: “False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020,” she wrote. “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.”
A dispute emerged between California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office and federal officials regarding who authorized Singh’s work permit status. Newsom’s office claimed that federal authorities under Trump had cleared him; however, DHS countered this statement with documentation showing denial during Trump’s tenure and approval during Biden’s presidency.
The case has raised concerns about how states like California issue commercial licenses to individuals without legal immigration status and has prompted renewed scrutiny over federal-state coordination on immigration enforcement.
