Illegal Immigrant Extradited to Florida After Fatal Crash
An undocumented immigrant, charged with three counts of vehicle murder in Florida, was extradited from California to Florida on Thursday.
“We’re here today due to a tragedy. Three lives were taken, and the lives of three Floridians were cut short,” said Florida Lieutenant Colonel Jay Collins during a press conference. He noted that the accused returned to California after the incident and illegally crossed the border back in 2018 to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
Harjinder Singh is accused of making an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike on August 12, leading to the fatal crash. After the incident, he was arrested in California, where he had sought refuge.
The Department of Transportation revealed that Singh failed both an English proficiency test and a road sign recognition test following the crash. In a statement, they mentioned that he passed only two out of twelve verbal questions and recognized just one out of four traffic signs correctly.
Collins Critiques California’s Policies
During the press event, Collins didn’t hold back when criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom’s immigration policies. “Do we really need to lose more lives because of these failed policies? Is it worth it for the safety of our citizens?” he questioned. He also raised concerns about how California was issuing CDLs to individuals lacking basic English skills and knowledge of road signs.
In response to accusations from Newsom that Collins was merely seeking media attention, he dismissed those claims as nonsense. He emphasized his commitment to citizen safety by stating, “I’m here because I care about our people.”
Singh’s Journey to Florida
Singh reportedly crossed into the U.S. illegally in 2018, subsequently acquiring his CDL in California. In September 2020, his work approval was denied by the Trump administration, as noted by Tricia McLaughlin, the deputy secretary for homeland security. This has sparked a debate between officials over accountability regarding Singh’s employment and immigration status.
McLaughlin rebuffed claims about Singh’s approval under the Trump administration, asserting that it was later finalized under Biden’s leadership. Newsom’s team accused the previous administration of lying about Singh’s eligibility.
Holding Singh Accountable
Collins committed to seeing that Singh faces trial in Florida. “Fleeing to a sanctuary state will not keep him from being held accountable for his actions here,” Collins remarked. Governor Ron DeSantis echoed this sentiment, affirming that Singh would answer for his alleged crimes.
