Florida Truck Driver Denied Bond in Fatal Crash Amid Immigration Dispute
Florida Truck Driver Denied Bond in Fatal Crash Amid Immigration Dispute
A truck driver, accused of causing a fatal U-turn collision that claimed three lives in Florida last week, was denied bond on Saturday. The incident has ignited a heated dispute between federal authorities and California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom regarding the driver’s immigration status and his ability to obtain a work permit and driver’s license.
Harjinder Singh, a native of India, faces three state counts of vehicular homicide and multiple immigration violations. He remains held without bond in the St. Lucie County Jail, with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold placed upon him, according to Lt. Andrew Bolonka of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
The controversy escalated after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized California’s policy of issuing licenses irrespective of immigration status. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin labeled the practice of issuing a commercial license to an individual allegedly in the country illegally as “asinine.” California is one of 19 states, alongside the District of Columbia, that permits such licensing, a policy supporters argue enables individuals to work, access healthcare, and travel safely.
In response, Governor Newsom’s office stated on social media that Singh acquired his work permit during the Trump administration, a claim McLaughlin disputes. Florida authorities report Singh illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico in 2018. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dispatched Lt. Gov. Jay Collins to California to facilitate Singh’s transfer to Florida on Thursday.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that Singh’s illegal U-turn on a highway approximately 50 miles north of West Palm Beach led to a minivan colliding with his truck’s trailer. The minivan’s driver and two passengers were killed. Singh and his truck passenger sustained no injuries.
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