Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced a probe into sanctuary jurisdictions that provide commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to illegal immigrants, following a fatal crash involving an undocumented driver who caused the deaths of three people. The investigation focuses on whether these jurisdictions, including California and Washington, are improperly issuing CDLs to undocumented individuals, as well as the agencies and companies that administer the licensing exams.
The crash occurred on the Florida Turnpike, where 28-year-old illegal immigrant Harjinder Singh, operating a commercial semi-truck with a trailer, allegedly attempted a U-turn in an unauthorized area. This caused the trailer to jackknife and collide with a minivan, killing all three occupants. Singh reportedly obtained his CDL licenses from California and Washington state, leading state authorities to question the oversight of these states’ licensing systems. Another illegal immigrant, Roberto Carlos Vergara, was also arrested for driving a commercial vehicle in Bay County. Vergara’s CDL license was obtained from New Jersey.
In response to the incident, Uthme, said, ‘It’s hard to imagine a situation where somebody doesn’t speak English, can actually go through one of these exams and receive the necessary authorization.’ He stressed that individuals unable to read English or street signs should not be operating large commercial vehicles, highlighting the dangers of allowing undocumented immigrants to hold such licenses. Uthmeier also called out sanctuary states for creating ‘a major liability’ by providing illegals with these licenses, noting that Florida does not issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that authorities are increasing enforcement efforts against illegal immigrants operating commercial trucks in the state. Measures include adding pullover lanes along Florida’s northern border and installing X-ray machines at interdiction stations. These actions aim to enhance safety and combat the use of commercial vehicles by undocumented individuals, which Uthmeier and Simpson argue contributes to public safety risks.
The incident has sparked political attention, with Senator Marco Rubio pausing worker visas for truck drivers in response to the deadly crash. The probe into licensing practices and enforcement measures underscores growing concerns over the potential risks associated with allowing undocumented immigrants to drive commercial vehicles, prompting calls for stricter oversight and accountability across the states involved.