Harjinder Singh, who fled to California, has been brought back to Florida to face formal charges. He is accused of killing three people in a Florida highway crash. Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins shared on social media, “He thought he could run. @GovRonDeSantis and I brought him back to face justice.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday that Lt. Gov. Jay Collins would travel to California to extradite Singh. Collins arrived in California on Thursday, pledging to personally escort Singh back to Florida to face charges. Singh, who was arrested in Stockton, California, on Saturday, is facing three counts of vehicular homicide.
During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Collins criticized what he described as “failed policies” that led to the crash. He specifically held California Governor Gavin Newsom responsible, saying the state’s “sanctuary” policies allowed Singh to obtain a commercial driver’s license despite failing basic competency tests. Collins wrote on X, “today, I personally escorted the thug who took the lives of three Floridians. Harjinder Singh should never have been in this country, and he never should have been granted a CDL by California.”
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According to FOX 35 Orlando, Collins said, “We are here today because of a tragedy. Three Floridians’ lives ended early. … He didn’t have basic English proficiency, he didn’t know the road signs, yet he is driving a giant vehicle across our state. … We’re going to make sure this thug is brought to justice. … How many more lives have to be lost?”
Records show that Singh entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico before obtaining a commercial driver’s license in Washington state in July 2023. Federal law bars undocumented immigrants from receiving full-term licenses, yet Singh’s application was approved. About a year later, California issued him a limited-term, non-domiciled license. On July 3, Singh was pulled over for speeding in New Mexico during a roadside check, but he was not administered the federally required English proficiency test that had come into effect just days prior. Following the crash, Singh underwent testing by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to assess his qualifications and compliance with U.S. commercial driving regulations—and he failed.
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The case has sparked widespread national debate, putting a spotlight on immigration and commercial licensing policies. On August 18, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned California’s governor for granting Singh a commercial driver’s license despite his undocumented status. “Secretary Noem and DHS are working around the clock to protect the public and get these criminal illegal aliens out of America,” McLaughlin posted on X, as per the Financial Express report.
On Thursday, the U.S. halted the issuance of work visas for commercial truck drivers, effective immediately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced. Rubio posted on X, “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.”