Newly released bodycam footage shows illegal immigrant truck driver Harjinder Singh struggling with limited English during a New Mexico traffic stop last month, just weeks before he allegedly caused a fatal crash in Florida that killed three people and ignited a nationwide debate over immigration and trucking safety.
The footage from the July 3 stop has become a flashpoint in the controversy, with federal and state officials offering conflicting interpretations of whether Singh’s language abilities should have triggered mandatory testing under new enforcement rules that took effect just days earlier.
During the traffic stop in New Mexico, Singh was pulled over by a state trooper for allegedly driving 60 mph in a 45-mph zone. The interaction initially proceeds without issue, with Singh appearing apologetic as he receives his ticket. However, the footage reveals communication difficulties emerge near the end of the stop.
“What’s that,” the trooper says after Singh attempts to ask a question. When Singh speaks again, the officer responds: “I’m sorry, I guess I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Singh then asks in broken English: “Maybe in this, this my ticket, on my license, how many years.” The officer eventually understands he’s asking about how long the violation will remain on his record and explains it would be five to seven years.
This exchange has drawn sharp scrutiny following the Department of Transportation’s revelation that Singh failed an English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment after the August 12 crash in Fort Pierce, Florida. Federal investigators found Singh provided correct responses to just 2 of 12 verbal questions and accurately identified only 1 of 4 highway traffic signs.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Tuesday that California, Washington and New Mexico must enforce English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers within 30 days or face losing up to 100 per cent of their Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program funding. The programme provides millions in federal money to help states improve commercial vehicle safety.
“States don’t get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow,” Duffy said. “As we saw with the horrific Florida crash that killed three, when states fail to enforce the law, they put the driving public in danger.”
However, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler strongly disputed federal characterisations of his department’s compliance with the new rules. In a detailed statement, Weisler said federal officials had “mischaracterised” New Mexico’s policy and noted that while general guidelines were issued on June 25, no standardised testing procedure was provided.
“When State Police sought clarification, the response received was simply, ‘You know when somebody doesn’t speak English,'” Weisler said. He argued that under federal guidelines, ELP assessments are only required when there’s a communication challenge, and the bodycam footage shows “there were no communication issues between Mr Singh and the officer.”
Weisler also revealed that New Mexico had developed its own compliance process and trained officers accordingly, keeping federal regulators informed with updates in late July and mid-August – before the Florida crash occurred. The state had planned to begin formal enforcement of ELP requirements on September 1.
The fatal crash occurred when Singh, 28, allegedly attempted an illegal U-turn through an “Official Use Only” access point on the Florida Turnpike near Fort Pierce. His tractor-trailer jackknifed and blocked all northbound lanes, leaving an oncoming Chrysler minivan no time to brake. All three occupants – a 37-year-old woman from Pompano Beach, a 54-year-old man from Miami, and a 30-year-old man from Florida City – were killed instantly.
Video footage from Singh’s truck shows the devastating moment of impact. What followed has raised additional concerns: Singh and his passenger, 25-year-old Harneet Singh, fled to California the very next day, before any warrant had been issued.
Singh was arrested in Stockton, California, on August 16 by U.S. Marshals and extradited to Florida, where he faces three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of manslaughter. A Florida judge denied bond on Saturday, ruling that Singh is an “unauthorised alien” and a substantial flight risk, with potential sentences totaling 45 years.
The case has exposed significant gaps in how commercial driver’s licences are issued to illegal immigrants. According to federal investigators, Singh entered the United States illegally in 2018 via the southern border and was released on a $5,000 bond while his immigration case was pending.
Despite his illegal status, Singh obtained a regular full-term commercial driver’s licence in Washington state in July 2023 – a type of licence that federal rules explicitly prohibit for asylum seekers or those without legal status. A year later, California issued him a limited-term/non-domiciled CDL, which the DOT is investigating for compliance with federal regulations.
The political fallout has been swift and bitter. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office and Department of Homeland Security officials have traded barbs over who bears responsibility. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin noted that while Singh’s work authorisation was denied under the Trump administration in September 2020, it was approved under the Biden administration in June 2021.
Newsom’s spokesperson fired back: “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.”
The enforcement of English proficiency requirements for truck drivers stems from a longstanding federal law that was de-emphasised during the Obama administration. President Trump signed an executive order in April demanding stricter enforcement, with new guidelines taking effect on June 25.
“A driver who can’t understand English will not drive a commercial vehicle in this country. Period,” Duffy declared in May when announcing the new enforcement guidelines. Since implementation, federal officials report that approximately 1,500 unqualified drivers have been taken out of service nationwide for English proficiency violations.
The trucking company Singh worked for, White Hawk Carriers, Inc., is also under federal investigation. Records show the company has accumulated multiple inspection violations and has been stripped of insurance coverage outside California.
Meanwhile, a petition on Change.org calling for leniency for Singh has gathered nearly 2.5 million signatures, arguing the crash was a “tragic accident” rather than deliberate negligence. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s office rejected the appeal, emphasising that “criminal actions have consequences.”
Immigration expert Lora Ries from The Heritage Foundation explained how Singh exploited licensing loopholes: “Note that the Trump administration denied Harjinder Singh’s application for work authorisation, but the Biden administration later granted his request. That could be enough to exploit this CDL loophole in a willing state.”
The tragedy has reignited debates over sanctuary state policies, immigration enforcement, and highway safety. Federal investigators found that since the new language standards took effect, California conducted roughly 34,000 inspections but only pulled one driver from service for English violations, despite finding violations in thousands of cases.
As Singh awaits trial in Florida, the three states face a deadline to demonstrate compliance with federal English proficiency requirements. Chief Weisler expressed concern about the “politicisation” of highway safety regulations, noting that nearly £5.4 million ($7 million) in federal funding for New Mexico State Police hangs in the balance.
“The tragic loss of life recently suffered by the people of Florida serves as a painful reminder of why these regulations matter,” Weisler said, while maintaining his officers followed proper procedures during the July stop.
The case continues to reverberate through political and legal channels, highlighting the deadly intersection of immigration policy, interstate commerce regulations, and public safety on America’s highways.
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