The state is revoking the licenses of the company responsible for employing illegal immigrant truck drivers, following a tragic incident in Florida that took three lives, as announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis this week.
“An illegal immigrant truck driver, who got a commercial driver’s license in California and worked there, was involved in this incident that killed three people in Florida,” DeSantis stated during a Fox News discussion with Jesse Watters.
“This individual didn’t even know English. We’re holding him accountable. But, Jesse, I started by saying I have to take responsibility for the company as well,” the governor added.
Authorities in Florida swiftly promised to address the tragedy that occurredon the Florida turnpike in St. Lucie County earlier this month. Reports indicate that the northbound truck crossed multiple lanes. The driver, identified as Haljinder Singh, an illegal immigrant, attempted an illegal U-turn using a designated turn for official use only.
Truck drivers with commercial licenses from California’s sanctuary policies sometimes come from backgrounds involving illegal crossings from Mexico in 2018.
A subsequent announcement from the US Department of Transportation disclosed that the driver could not communicate in English.
“During an interview with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an English Proficiency assessment was conducted on the driver,” the report shared.
The findings also noted that this issue isn’t isolated to California.
- On July 15, 2023, Washington state granted regular commuting driver’s licenses (CDL) to drivers.
- Asylum seekers or individuals without legal status should not receive a license of this kind.
- On July 23, 2024, California provided a limited/non-dominant CDL for certain drivers.
- The FMCSA is investigating whether this licensing adhered to federal regulations.
“If the state had enforced proper regulations, this driver wouldn’t have been behind the wheel, and those three precious lives could have been saved,” Transport Secretary Sean Duffy remarked in a preliminary report.
“This crash was a preventable tragedy stemming from reckless choices and neglect. The lack of enforcement and extreme immigration policies have turned our trucking sector into a hazardous environment, allowing unqualified foreign drivers to operate massive vehicles,” he continued.
“President Trump and I are committed to restoring safety on our roads,” Duffy asserted. “The families of the deceased deserve justice.”
