A fatal crash in Florida involving an illegal immigrant trucker who failed English and road sign tests has triggered a federal investigation into state compliance with commercial driver licensing regulations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is urging states to adhere to federal rules, with California and New Mexico asserting they follow the law. The case underscores tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration and safety protocols. Following the crash earlier this month, federal investigators said Singh failed English proficiency and road sign tests. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office maintains that they were following federal law when Singh’s license was issued and placed the blame on the Trump administration. ‘This is rich. The Trump administration approved the federal work permit for the man who killed 3 people — and now they’re scrambling to shift blame after getting caught. Sean’s nonsense announcement is as big a joke as the Trump Administration itself. SAD!’ a spokesperson for Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital in a statement. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaugh, previously disputed Newsom’s timeline that says he was given a work permit under Trump. ‘False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021,’ McLaughlin said on Aug. 18 in response to Newsom’s press office’s X account. Michael Coleman, spokesman for Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, said they are ‘confident’ that a ‘full review of these incidents’ will show that the state is following the law. ‘New Mexico’s top priority is the safety of its residents and visitors, and we are confident that our state laws for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are fully compliant with federal regulations,’ he said, adding that the state requires an English test to make sure drivers know road signs. ‘We are aware of recent claims regarding the enforcement of these regulations and are actively seeking more information from the relevant federal and state partners. Initial reports suggest that these claims relate to a small number of roadside incidents over a three-month period. It’s important to note that these incidents may have involved out-of-state drivers due to the cross-country nature of our trucking industry,’ he continued. The Washington Department of Licensing said last week that an investigation is underway into how Singh was able to obtain a commercial driver’s license in the state.