Washington, D.C. / California — The White House has sharply criticized California authorities after a 21-year-old Indian-origin truck driver, identified as Jashanpreet Singh from Yuba City, allegedly caused a fiery eight-vehicle crash that killed three people on a Southern California freeway earlier this week.
According to U.S. Homeland Security, Singh entered the United States illegally in 2022 via the southern border and was later granted a commercial driver’s license (CDL) by the state of California — a move the Trump administration has called “reckless” and part of a “disturbing pattern” of licensing undocumented immigrants.
White House Condemnation
At a Thursday press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is “deeply alarmed” that a “criminal illegal alien” was able to operate a commercial vehicle on American highways.
“I can confirm that California gave this individual a license,” Leavitt said. “He killed three people. He entered the United States in 2022 through the southern border and was released into our country by the previous administration. These tragedies are following a disturbing pattern of criminal illegal aliens being issued commercial vehicle licenses.”
Leavitt added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has since lodged a detainer against Singh following his arrest on charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence causing injury.
The White House also said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has launched a federal crackdown to prevent states from issuing CDLs to noncitizens without legal work authorization.
The Deadly Crash
The crash occurred Tuesday in Ontario, California, when Singh’s tractor-trailer allegedly slammed into a small white SUV on a freeway, triggering a chain reaction that engulfed multiple vehicles in flames. Dashcam footage shows the truck plowing into several cars before crashing into a disabled vehicle on the shoulder.
Three people died at the scene, and four others were hospitalized. Singh, who survived, was arrested and is being held without bail pending his arraignment on Friday. Authorities said he appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash.
Local officials confirmed Singh does not yet have legal representation. Homeland Security reiterated that he crossed into the U.S. illegally in 2022 and that California later issued him a commercial license after he obtained temporary employment authorization.
Trump Team Calls Out California
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign and top officials seized on the case as evidence of what they called the failures of California’s immigration and licensing policies.
“This is another tragic example of the chaos created when states ignore federal law,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who noted that similar incidents had occurred in Florida and Texas. “These people deserve justice — and there will be consequences.”
Trump’s team also accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of “knowingly allowing” unverified immigrants to operate commercial vehicles.
In response, Newsom’s office defended the state’s actions, stating that Singh’s federal employment authorization was verified multiple times and legally permitted him to hold a CDL. “California followed federal law,” the statement said.
Background and Fallout
The crash — and its political fallout — have reignited a national debate over immigration enforcement and highway safety. It comes just weeks after another deadly crash in Florida involving an immigrant truck driver accused of similar offenses.
Federal officials said tighter CDL regulations for noncitizens were enacted last month, but the California incident occurred before those changes took effect.
Singh, originally from Punjab, India, moved to Yuba City in 2022 after crossing the U.S. border illegally, officials said. His arrest has drawn widespread attention from both American and Indian communities online, sparking discussions about immigration vetting, trucking industry oversight, and accountability.
As the victims’ families prepare for funerals, ICE and federal prosecutors are working with California authorities to determine whether additional immigration or criminal charges will be filed against Singh — whose alleged actions have now become a national flashpoint in the 2025 U.S. presidential race.