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The Washington State Division of Licensing is investigating how an unlawful immigrant obtained a business driver’s license, as questions loom following a lethal crash in Florida that killed three folks final Tuesday.
The case has reignited debate over state licensing loopholes and immigration enforcement, elevating questions on how a noncitizen with out authorized standing may have obtained a business driver’s license.
“The Division of Licensing is investigating the 2023 issuance of Mr. Singh’s prior business driver license. I don’t presently have a timeline on when the investigation will likely be accomplished, nor what we will launch,” a spokesperson informed Fox Information Digital in an e mail on Thursday.
The suspect, Harjinder Singh, entered the US illegally in 2018 on the southern border, however he was denied authorization to work by the primary Trump administration in 2020. Nonetheless, he was capable of get a business driver’s license in California, in keeping with the Division of Homeland Safety.
EXPERT REVEALS HOW ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER MAY HAVE GOTTEN COMMERCIAL LICENSE BEFORE FATAL FLORIDA CRASH
Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old unlawful alien from India who was arrested on Aug. 16, 2025, allegedly tried to make an unauthorized U-turn in Ft. Pierce, Florida, on Tuesday, leading to a crash that killed three folks. (U.S. Marshals Service )
As well as, he additionally acquired a business driver’s license in July 2023 within the state of Washington, which is in opposition to the legislation there, in keeping with the Division of Transportation.
The motive force allegedly made a U-turn in an space on the Florida Turnpike the place such a flip was prohibited, inflicting his truck to crash with a minivan, killing three folks. As well as, he failed an English proficiency evaluation and a street signal take a look at carried out by federal investigators.
“Throughout [Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s] interview with the motive force, investigators administered an English Language Proficiency (ELP) evaluation in accordance with FMCSA steering,” DOT stated in an announcement. “The motive force failed the evaluation, offering appropriate responses to only 2 of 12 verbal questions and solely precisely figuring out 1 of 4 freeway visitors indicators.”
The California Division of Motor Automobiles has not responded to requests for touch upon the issuance of the license. Nevertheless, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press workplace acquired into an alternate on X.com with DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin concerning the particulars of how he acquired a piece allow.
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Harjinder Singh is escorted onto an airplane by Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and legislation enforcement on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Stockton, California. (Benjamin Fanjoy/AP Photograph)
“Hey, genius: the federal authorities (TRUMP ADMIN) already confirmed that this man meets federal and state immigration necessities — YOU issued him a piece allow (EAD). As typical, the Trump Administration is both mendacity or clueless,” Newsom’s press workplace posted earlier this week.
“False. Harjinder Singh is in the US illegally and his work authorization was rejected beneath the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later accredited beneath the Biden Administration June 9, 2021. The state of California points Industrial Drivers Licenses. There is no such thing as a nationwide CDL. Sincerely, Genius,” McLaughlin replied.
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Singh was extradited to Florida from California on Thursday. There’s been issues in different states about unlawful immigrants being issued customary driver’s licenses as properly, together with allegations from a whistleblower in Kentucky alleging that folks would pay beneath the desk to acquire the licenses illegally.
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Tractor trailers on the entrance of the Port of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (Nathan Howard)
Lora Ries, director of the Border Safety and Immigration Heart at The Heritage Basis, informed Fox Information Digital on Wednesday about how Singh’s case may occur within the first place.
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“Simply as states difficulty driver’s licenses, in addition they difficulty business driver’s licenses (CDLs). States are usually not presupposed to difficulty CDLs to an individual except they’re a U.S. citizen or lawful everlasting resident (inexperienced card holder). There appears to be a loophole for a state to difficulty a CDL to somebody who’s merely approved to work within the U.S.,” Ries defined in an announcement.
“Observe that the Trump (45) administration denied Harjinder Singh’s software for work authorization, however the Biden administration later granted his request. That might be sufficient to take advantage of this CDL loophole in a prepared state,” the skilled continued.
Fox Information Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
