Transport Secretary Sean Duffy pointed out that a “snarky” error made by state officials has led to an illegal immigrant truck driver causing the deaths of three Americans in Florida.
“The nation must adhere to the rules. Had they done so, this driver wouldn’t have been behind the wheel, and three precious lives would still be with us,” Duffy tweeted on Tuesday.
The incident on August 12 claimed the lives of three Americans when illegal immigrant driver Haljinder Singh navigated an 18-wheeler through a U-turn on the Florida turnpike. Singh is just one of many immigrants exploiting lax federal and state regulations to operate trucks across the nation. Some estimates suggest that while many of these drivers struggle to read English or comprehend road signs, about 80,000 low-wage immigrants are employed across various transport companies.
“Here’s what we know,” Duffy tweeted:
1. Washington State improperly granted a full-year CDL to drivers. Asylum seekers or illegal aliens shouldn’t be issued this!
2. New Mexico failed to conduct English proficiency tests when stopping a driver for speeding. If they had, the driver wouldn’t have been on the road!
3. We’re also considering the issuance of a CDL for drivers in California.
States need to follow the rules. If they had, this driver wouldn’t be behind the wheel, and the lives of the three would still be with us.
The negligence here is appalling. Non-enforcement and extreme immigration policies have turned the trucking industry into a chaotic environment, allowing unqualified foreign drivers to receive licenses to operate large vehicles.
“This cannot happen again,” Duffy emphasized, calling for an investigation into both drivers and their employer, White Hawk carrier.
Since April, Duffy has taken various measures to tackle the issue of illegal drivers. For instance, he reinstated federal regulations that require drivers to be able to read English. This enforcement had been suspended during the last months of President Barack Obama’s administration.
Nonetheless, most drivers secure licenses and jobs from trucking companies located in “sanctuary states,” which prioritize business interests over enforcing border laws.
A video reveals a nearly emotional response from an Indian-born driver regarding the deaths of the three Americans.
However, immigration attorneys are eager to defend the legal process that led to the deaths of the three American victims.
“He received a work permit while applying for asylum. Under long-standing regulations, he is permitted to work legally while awaiting a decision,” stated Aaron Reichlin Melnick, an advocate for the American Council for Pro-Immigration.
