The White House on Monday claimed California policies were behind the deaths of three people in a traffic accident in Florida, but got key facts wrong in describing the situation.
Alex Brandon/Associated Press
SACRAMENTO — The White House on Monday blamed California’s sanctuary policies for a fatal crash in Florida allegedly caused by an undocumented semitruck driver, even though the Trump administration acknowledged the driver had a federal work permit.
And while it’s true that California enabled immigrants without legal status to obtain driver’s licenses more than a decade ago, that law did not extend to commercial trucking licenses.
The accusation prompted a new round of fighting between President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and became the latest tragedy to stand in for the broader debate about immigration. It appeared that once again the White House got key facts wrong as it attempted to seize on a devastating accident to harness public sympathy for its efforts to swiftly remove thousands of immigrants from the country.
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The White House has targeted California in particular as it carries out its deportation campaign, including by sending military troops into Los Angeles, and through an incident last week in which Border Patrol officials crashed a Newsom news conference.
Harjinder Singh, 28, of Stockton, was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide following the deaths of three people on the Florida turnpike last week. Florida Highway Patrol said Singh, the driver of the semitruck, “recklessly, and without regard for the safety of others” attempted an illegal U-turn and was struck by a minivan.
“The illegal alien is an Indian national who was granted a commercial driver’s license by the so-called ‘sanctuary state’ of California, whose reckless policies put the lives of American citizens at risk every single day,” White House staff wrote in a news release Monday morning. “But instead of acknowledging the tragedy, criminal illegal alien sympathizer Gavin Newsom callously doubled down, claiming that giving driver’s licenses to illegals ‘improves public safety.’”
Singh, however, was granted a federal work permit and appears to have an ongoing asylum claim allowing him to legally remain in the country while it makes its way through court. A copy of Singh’s most recent federal work permit obtained by the Chronicle shows it was issued April 9 and will expire in 2030. The document also shows Singh had an ongoing asylum case when it was issued.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles granted Singh a commercial driver’s license in compliance with “all federal and state laws” after confirming his legal status in the United States, DMV spokesperson Jonathan Groveman said. Singh provided the required documents, which the DMV confirmed through the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system. Groveman also noted that Singh’s commercial license is a REAL ID, further evidence that the federal government had confirmed his legal status.
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The White House’s characterization of Singh echoed similar accusations made by Florida law enforcement officials about the accident days earlier.
Florida troopers said during the criminal investigation — which was assisted by ICE — that investigators determined Singh entered the country illegally by crossing the Mexico border in 2018. The Florida Highway Patrol said he obtained his commercial driving license in the state of California.
Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Newsom, confirmed that Singh had a commercial driver’s license, but blamed the Trump administration for granting Singh a work permit, which allowed him to obtain the license.
“He would have been eligible in any state,” she wrote. “California followed federal law, something the President knows nothing about.”
Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security official, said on X, however, that the Trump administration rejected a work permit for Singh in 2020. The permit was later approved under the Biden administration in 2021, she said. The document obtained by the Chronicle shows Singh’s work permit was renewed in April, under Trump.
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It’s standard for states to accept federal working permits granted through the asylum process as sufficient proof of residency for a commercial driver’s license. The license would also only be granted by a state DMV after the individual passed safety tests and exams. Trucking jobs are popular among immigrants, including those going through the asylum process.
“An asylum seeker under federal law is eligible for work authorization six months after the application is filed,” said Kevin R. Johnson, an attorney and dean of the UC Davis School of Law. “I am not precisely sure what the Trump administration is arguing here.”
In Texas, for example, a noncitizen can meet the requirements for a commercial driver’s license if they have valid employment authorization documents that come through the asylum process, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“It seems to me that President Trump is blaming California law that he does not like for an unfortunate traffic accident,” Johnson said. “In my mind, blaming the accident on the ‘sanctuary laws’ is akin to blaming immigrants for crimes. The accident is tragic. Crime is tragic. But immigration status is not the central issue that caused the tragedy.”
California lawmakers in 2013 passed a law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. But that law explicitly does not apply to commercial licenses, a higher level of certification required for commercial truck drivers.
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California separately has a sanctuary state law that limits when local and state law enforcement authorities can cooperate with federal immigration agents. While that law did not come into play for Singh’s arrest because the alleged crime took place in Florida, it would not prevent California law enforcement officials from turning over an immigrant to federal authorities if a similar crash had happened here, because the law includes broad exceptions for serious crimes, including vehicular homicide.
Both laws were signed into law by former Gov. Jerry Brown, Newsom’s predecessor.
David Kerner, the head of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said Singh was in custody on homicide charges and immigration violations.
“He will no longer be able to damage and destroy the lives of Floridians and visitors,” Kerner said in a statement. “At the conclusion of his state charges, he will be deported. The Florida Highway Patrol remains committed to enforcing both state and federal law to ensure that people that are a danger to others face justice behind bars.”
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Florida troopers responded to the crash on the afternoon of Aug. 12 on Florida’s Turnpike in St. Lucie County. Singh’s semitruck was traveling north and began making a U-turn at an “official use only” turnaround, which crossed all northbound lanes. Troopers said in a statement that the minivan’s 30-year-old driver was unable to avoid the truck. The left side of the trailer was struck by the van, wedging it beneath.
The van’s passengers, 37 and 54, died at the scene. The driver died a couple of hours later from his injuries.