California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing backlash after attempting to pin blame on President Donald Trump for the actions of Harjinder Singh, an illegal migrant truck driver charged with vehicular homicide in a Florida crash that killed three people.
The accident occurred on August 12 near Fort Pierce, Florida, when Singh, driving a semi-truck, attempted to make an illegal U-turn across all northbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike. The maneuver caused a Chrysler Town & Country to slam head-on into the trailer, killing all three occupants.
Authorities identified Singh as an illegal alien from India who crossed into the U.S. from Mexico in 2018. He later obtained a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in California. In response, Newsom defended the state’s policy of issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented migrants, claiming it “improves public safety,” while also accusing President Trump of admitting Singh into the country.
That claim has now been debunked. Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, confirmed that Singh was denied a work permit under President Trump. He was later granted a work permit under President Joe Biden’s more lenient immigration policies, which allowed him to remain in the U.S. and eventually obtain a CDL.
Newsom’s press office, run by communications director Izzy Gardon, doubled down on the false narrative through the official @GovPressOffice account, amplifying the governor’s claim and sharing a San Francisco Chronicle article that implied Trump had misstated “key facts.” However, the article itself failed to support Newsom’s charge. It noted that CDL licenses are legal for migrants with work permits but confirmed that California excludes CDL eligibility for undocumented migrants.
While Newsom publicly defended issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented migrants, the fact remains that Singh’s legal status and work permit were denied under Trump and later approved under Biden. The unresolved question is how Singh was allowed to remain in the country after being denied, especially given California’s sanctuary state policies.
With three Americans dead and Newsom’s office caught spreading misleading claims, critics argue the tragedy highlights the deadly consequences of weak immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies that shield illegal migrants from deportation.
