Harjinder Singh, the Indian-origin truck driver whose wrong U-turn on August 12 resulted in three deaths in Florida, received a work permit under the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed. This revelation has ignited a fierce debate over who authorized Singh’s entry, work eligibility, and commercial driver’s license.
Immigration and License Timeline
- 2018: Singh entered the U.S. illegally and was arrested by Border Patrol two days later.
- 2018: Released on a $5,000 bond after claiming fear of returning to India; immigration status remains pending.
- California issued Singh a Commercial Driver’s License, drawing criticism from the Trump administration and a counterclaim from Governor Newsom’s office.
Work Permit Approval Controversy
DHS official Tricia McLaughlin revealed that Singh’s work authorization was rejected in 2020 under the Trump administration but approved in 2021 by the Biden administration. McLaughlin noted,
“The state of California issues Commercial Drivers Licenses. There is no national CDL.”
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.… https://t.co/4YSs3qIj2B
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) August 18, 2025
Fatal Florida Crash Details
On August 12, while driving a semi-truck, Harjinder Singh made an illegal U-turn that collided with a minivan. Two passengers — a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach and a 54-year-old man from Miami — died at the scene.
The van’s driver, a 30-year-old man from Florida City, later succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Neither Singh nor his co-passenger were harmed. Singh has been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide.
Public and Political Reactions
- Trump administration: Blamed California for “sheltering illegal aliens” by issuing Singh a driver’s license.
- California officials: Assert that the Trump administration’s own policies allowed Singh to remain in the U.S., enabling him to obtain both work authorization and a license.
- Community response: Video of the crash went viral, intensifying calls for clearer rules on immigration, work permits, and commercial licensing.
The case of Harjinder Singh highlights gaps in U.S. immigration enforcement and state-level licensing systems. As authorities continue to probe the deadly crash, lawmakers on both sides are pushing for reforms to prevent similar tragedies and ensure accountability in work permit and CDL issuance.
