The White House is criticizing the issuance of commercial driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants following a fatal crash in California. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has called attention to what she describes as a "disturbing pattern" of "criminal illegal aliens" being authorized to operate commercial vehicles on U.S. roads.
The controversy stems from an eight-vehicle collision on a San Bernardino County freeway involving Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old Indian immigrant. Singh, driving a Freightliner tractor-trailer, allegedly under the influence, crashed into slowing traffic, resulting in a fiery pile-up. The crash killed three people and injured several others, including Singh and a mechanic.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Singh entered the U.S. through the southern border in 2022 and was released into the country. Following his arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer for Singh on charges of manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence.
Leavitt confirmed that California issued Singh a commercial driver's license (CDL) and stated that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched an investigation into the matter. She stated that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is addressing the issue and cracking down on licenses wrongfully issued to individuals who "clearly do not deserve to uphold these positions".
Secretary Duffy has criticized California for its "reckless disregard" of federal safety standards, particularly the failure to enforce English-language testing requirements for CDL applicants. He warned that California could risk losing over $40 million in federal highway safety funding if it does not comply with federal requirements.
Leavitt's remarks have sparked heated debate, drawing comparisons to Hillary Clinton's "deplorables" comment. Critics have slammed Leavitt’s comments as divisive and inflammatory. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Leavitt "sick" for her comments about Democrats. Leavitt responded by calling Jeffries "an America Last, stone-cold loser," asserting that Democrats are "lashing out because they know what I said is true".
The White House maintains that the Trump administration is committed to securing the border and deporting "illegal criminals". Leavitt has stated that if a foreign national illegally enters the U.S., they are by definition a criminal and subject to deportation.
Meanwhile, unions and advocacy groups are challenging restrictions on commercial driver's licenses for immigrants, arguing that such restrictions would harm businesses and livelihoods. They contend that these restrictions would prevent asylum seekers, refugees, and DACA recipients from accessing CDLs.
This incident has also brought scrutiny to states that allow unauthorized immigrants to receive commercial driver's licenses. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia currently have such policies. The SAFE Drivers Act has been proposed, seeking to ban foreign-language truck driver tests and revoke licenses issued to undocumented immigrants.
