Illegal Immigrant Involved in Fatal Accident was Issued CDL by California. Newsome Tries to Blame Trump

An illegal immigrant truck driver's deadly crash on Florida's Turnpike, which killed three Americans, has ignited a heated exchange between the White House and California Governor Gavin Newsom's office, exposing how the sanctuary state issued him a commercial driver's license despite state and federal restrictions.

Harjinder Singh, 32, entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018 and obtained a California CDL before the August 14 incident. Driving a semi-truck, Singh made an unauthorized U-turn in a restricted area near Fort Pierce, causing his vehicle to jackknife and crush a minivan. The victims—two women and a child from Georgia—died at the scene. Singh, unharmed, showed no emotion as he inspected the wreckage, per Florida Highway Patrol reports. He faces three counts of vehicular homicide and remains in St. Lucie County jail without bond, with deportation proceedings pending.

Federal regulations under the FMCSA require proof of legal presence for CDLs, typically barring undocumented immigrants without work authorization. California's AB 60 law, effective since 2015, allows undocumented residents to get standard driver's licenses for safety reasons but does not extend to commercial ones due to federal oversight. Despite this, Singh secured his CDL in California, highlighting enforcement gaps in the Democrat-run state.

The White House quickly condemned California, stating, "This individual is an illegal immigrant who was granted a commercial driver’s license by the State of California — and now, three innocent people are dead." Newsom's press office fired back on X with a graphic noting Singh's 2018 entry under President Trump, California's prohibition on licenses for undocumented immigrants, and claims that such licenses enhance road safety. "Who was the President in 2018?" the post quipped.

The response backfired when the White House retorted, "Thanks for admitting California ignored their own law when they gave this criminal illegal immigrant scumbag a CDL." Newsom's team, silent on the rebuttal, inadvertently spotlighted the state's lax policies, which critics say prioritize sanctuary status over public safety.

This tragedy underscores broader issues with illegal immigration and state licensing. Over 19 states, including California, offer driver's licenses to undocumented individuals, but CDLs involve stricter federal rules tied to homeland security. Singh's case, where he lacked legal status yet drove commercially interstate, raises questions about verification processes. Florida officials confirmed his CDL was valid but issued amid his unlawful presence.