THREE KILLED BY ILLEGAL ALIEN TRUCK DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND IN THE U.S.

SUMMARY OF THE INCIDENT
ON OCTOBER 21, 2025, A FIERY MULTI-VEHICLE CRASH ON INTERSTATE 10 IN ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA, CLAIMED THE LIVES OF THREE PEOPLE AND INJURED AT LEAST THREE OTHERS. THE DRIVER, 21-YEAR-OLD JASHANPREET SINGH FROM YUBA CITY, CALIFORNIA, WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH GROSS VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER WHILE INTOXICATED. AUTHORITIES ALLEGE HE WAS DRIVING A FREIGHTLINER SEMI-TRUCK UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND FAILED TO STOP FOR SLOWED TRAFFIC, SLAMMING INTO MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND CAUSING EXPLOSIONS FROM FIRES.
IMMIGRATION STATUS AND BACKGROUND
SINGH, ORIGINALLY FROM INDIA, ENTERED THE U.S. ILLEGALLY VIA THE SOUTHERN BORDER IN MARCH 2022 IN CALIFORNIA'S EL CENTRO SECTOR. HE WAS ENCOUNTERED BY BORDER PATROL BUT RELEASED INTO THE INTERIOR UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S "ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION" POLICY, PENDING IMMIGRATION HEARINGS. THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) CONFIRMED HE HAS NO LAWFUL IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) HAS PLACED AN IMMIGRATION DETAINER ON HIM FOR DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS FOLLOWING HIS ARREST.
INVESTIGATORS ARE PROBING HOW SINGH OBTAINED A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE (CDL) IN CALIFORNIA DESPITE HIS STATUS. THE STATE ISSUED IT, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS LIKE ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND IMMIGRATION VERIFICATION FOR CDLS.
POLITICAL REACTIONS
THE INCIDENT HAS SPARKED OUTRAGE AND FINGER-POINTING ACROSS PARTY LINES:

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY KAROLINE LEAVITT BLAMED CALIFORNIA'S SANCTUARY POLICIES AND GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM FOR ISSUING THE CDL, STATING, "THIS IS ON YOU" AND CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROTECT AMERICANS.
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY CITED THE CRASH AS JUSTIFICATION FOR NEW FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS BANNING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM OPERATING TRUCKS, ANNOUNCED RECENTLY.
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM ACKNOWLEDGED THE CDL BUT SHIFTED BLAME TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR RELEASING SINGH IN 2022, WHILE ALSO CRITICIZING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLICIES. HIS OFFICE CALLED TRUMP'S RESPONSE A "JOKE."
CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATORS LIKE BENNY JOHNSON AND END WOKENESS HIGHLIGHTED IT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF OPEN BORDER POLICIES, WARNING OF MORE SUCH INCIDENTS.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS ALSO WITHHELD $40 MILLION IN HIGHWAY SAFETY FUNDS FROM CALIFORNIA FOR FAILING TO ENFORCE ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR TRUCK DRIVERS.
SIMILAR RECENT CASE
THIS CRASH ECHOES AN AUGUST 2025 INCIDENT ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE, WHERE ANOTHER INDIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK DRIVER, HARJINDER SINGH (NO RELATION), MADE AN ILLEGAL U-TURN, KILLING THREE HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS RETURNING HOME TO SOUTH FLORIDA. HE HAD ENTERED ILLEGALLY IN 2018 AND OBTAINED A CALIFORNIA CDL. FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS USED IT TO CRITICIZE CALIFORNIA AND PUSH IMMIGRATION CHECKPOINTS AT TRUCK STOPS.
CURRENT STATUS
SINGH REMAINS IN CUSTODY, AND THE VICTIMS' IDENTITIES HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED PUBLICLY. THE CRASH WAS CAPTURED ON DASHCAM FOOTAGE FROM SINGH'S TRUCK. FEDERAL PROBES INTO CDL ISSUANCE CONTINUE, WITH LAWSUITS AGAINST STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON FOR ALLEGED NON-COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY RULES.
THIS EVENT UNDERSCORES ONGOING DEBATES OVER IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, DRIVER LICENSING, AND ROAD SAFETY. MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES AFFECTED—SUCH TRAGEDIES ARE HEARTBREAKING AND PREVENTABLE WITH STRONGER POLICIES.