Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins has accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of failing to address illegal immigration, claiming that an illegal immigrant trucker who obtained a California CDL was responsible for a deadly crash in Florida that killed three people. The incident has intensified the political divide between the two states, with Collins accusing Newsom of allowing systemic failures that contributed to the tragedy. Collins reportedly arrived in California to retrieve the suspect, Harjinder Singh, who is an Indian national. According to Collins, Singh illegally crossed the border, obtained a CDL in California, and later struggled with English proficiency during his interrogation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Collins argued that Newsom’s policies created an environment where such individuals could operate without consequence.
Newsom’s press office responded by accusing Florida of letting a murder suspect walk and calling Collins’ actions a staged photo op. The exchange has highlighted the growing tension over immigration policies, with Collins emphasizing that Newsom’s approach has put American citizens at risk. Collins also criticized Newsom for prioritizing social media over actual governance, claiming that the governor’s focus on online attention has come at the expense of protecting citizens. In a further jab, Newsom’s press team referred to DeSantis as ‘Meatball Ron’ and claimed he ‘lost to Mickey Mouse’ in reference to the Reedy Creek Improvement District dispute involving Disney. The comments have intensified the political rivalry between the two states, with Collins accusing Newsom of undermining public safety through his immigration policies.