On August 12, 2025, a tragic highway accident in St. Lucie County, Florida, ignited a fierce national debate over immigration policy, state licensing, and governmental accountability. The incident, which left three Americans dead, was caused by Harjinder Singh, a 2018 border-crosser from India, who attempted a reckless U-turn in a semi-truck at an “Official Use Only” access point on the Florida Turnpike. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Singh’s maneuver blocked all lanes and resulted in a deadly pile-up, claiming the lives of three innocent people in a minivan.
The aftermath of the crash quickly spiraled into a political firestorm, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) publicly blaming California Governor Gavin Newsom and his state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for issuing Singh a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) despite his illegal immigration status. As reported by Breaking911 and corroborated by official statements, Singh had entered the United States illegally through the Mexico border in 2018 and, despite not having legal status, managed to obtain a CDL from California.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin did not mince words in her condemnation. “Three innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California Department of Motor Vehicles issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License—this state of governance is asinine,” McLaughlin declared on August 18, 2025. She continued, “How many more innocent people must die before Gavin Newsom stops playing games with the safety of the American public? We pray for the victims and their families. Secretary Noem and DHS are working around the clock to protect the public and get these criminal illegal aliens out of America.” The DHS website echoed these sentiments, stating that Governor Newsom had “put Americans' lives directly at risk by arming this illegal alien with the ability to operate a 40-ton killing machine on US highways.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also weighed in, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “3 innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California DMV issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License. This gut-wrenching tragedy should have never happened.” Noem announced that her team at DHS would collaborate with the Department of Transportation (USDOT) to “root out and prevent illegal aliens from obtaining these licenses from sanctuary jurisdictions that put American drivers and passengers in danger.”
The controversy did not stop there. Governor Newsom’s press office fired back, accusing DHS of misrepresenting the facts. “Hey, Commander Cosplay: the federal government (YOU) already confirmed that this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements -- YOU issued him a work permit (EAD). Oops. As usual, you are either lying or clueless,” Newsom’s office posted on X. The post pointed out that Singh had received a work permit, implying that federal authorities had approved his eligibility for employment, which allowed him to apply for a CDL in California.
However, McLaughlin responded with a detailed clarification, stating, “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. There is no national CDL. Sincerely, Genius.” This back-and-forth underscored the complexity of the case, with federal and state officials trading accusations over who was ultimately responsible for Singh’s ability to legally drive a commercial vehicle.
The crash and ensuing political spat drew attention from other high-profile figures as well. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, sharing the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles press release, stated, “He should have never been in our country in the first place!” DeSantis, who has previously clashed with Newsom and is considered a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election, did not specifically mention Newsom in his remarks but emphasized the need for Singh to be held accountable.
The online reaction was swift and, at times, vitriolic. Social media users blamed California’s sanctuary policies, with one post reading, “California as a sanctuary state for illegals has gotten countless Americans killed. Gavin Newsom deserves to spend life in prison.” Others accused Newsom of deflection and the left of prioritizing “control and power” over public safety. Such heated rhetoric illustrated how incidents like this can quickly become flashpoints in America’s ongoing debate over immigration and state versus federal authority.
After Singh was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, ICE placed an immigration detainer on him on August 16, 2025, to ensure he would be transferred to federal custody following his state trial. This move, according to DHS, was intended to prevent Singh from being released back into the community. The department also reminded the public that support is available for families affected by crimes committed by illegal immigrants through the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office.
For many, the tragic loss of three lives is a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of policy decisions and bureaucratic oversight. The case has reignited calls for reform on both sides of the aisle. DHS and its supporters argue that states like California, by issuing licenses to undocumented immigrants, are endangering public safety and undermining federal immigration enforcement. Supporters of California’s approach, however, contend that the state is simply following federal guidelines and that the blame lies with federal authorities who granted work authorization.
The facts remain clear: Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2018, was later granted work authorization under the Biden Administration in 2021 after being denied under the Trump Administration, and was able to obtain a California CDL. He is now facing state vehicular homicide charges and immigration violations, and will likely remain in federal custody after his trial concludes.
This incident has also exposed the tangled web of federal and state responsibilities when it comes to immigration enforcement and public safety. While DHS and ICE have pointed fingers at California and Governor Newsom, Newsom’s office has pushed back, highlighting the role of federal work permits and the timeline of Singh’s immigration status. The public, meanwhile, is left to grapple with the reality that, regardless of where the blame ultimately lies, three lives have been lost in a preventable tragedy.
As the legal process unfolds, the debate over sanctuary policies, commercial licensing for immigrants, and the interplay between state and federal authority is likely to intensify. For now, the families of the victims, and a nation divided over immigration, are left searching for answers—and accountability.
