A 21-year-old illegal immigrant from India who was released by federal authorities after crossing the southern border in 2022 is now accused of causing a deadly semi-truck crash that killed three people in Southern California.

Jashanpreet Singh was first encountered by Border Patrol agents in California's El Centro Sector in March 2022 and released into the country's interior pending an immigration hearing, according to Fox News. Singh has been arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after his big rig plowed into slow-moving traffic on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County.

The fiery crash was captured on dashcam video and left at least three people dead, with several others injured. Federal law enforcement sources confirm that Singh is not in lawful immigration status, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an immigration detainer following his arrest.

Biden Administration Release Policy Under Scrutiny

Singh was released under the Biden administration's 2022 "alternatives to detention" policy, which allowed certain immigrants to remain in the United States while awaiting immigration hearings. This case represents one of several documented instances where illegal immigrants released pending hearings subsequently committed serious crimes. The policy was designed to reduce detention costs and address overcrowding in immigration facilities.

Federal sources indicate that Singh never applied his brakes before slamming into the traffic jam on the busy freeway. Toxicology tests confirmed that Singh was impaired at the time of the crash, leading to the gross vehicular manslaughter charges. The devastating impact of the collision created a scene of destruction that required extensive emergency response efforts.

The incident has reignited political debate over the effectiveness of alternatives to detention programs and their potential public safety implications. Critics argue that releasing individuals without proper vetting or monitoring systems creates unnecessary risks for American communities. Supporters of such programs contend that they provide humanitarian alternatives while still maintaining immigration enforcement priorities.

Pattern of Illegal Immigrant Driver Incidents

This crash is part of a troubling pattern involving illegal immigrant truck drivers operating commercial vehicles in the United States. Another case involved Harjinder Singh, who crossed the southern border illegally in 2018 and obtained a commercial driver's license in California before allegedly causing a crash in Fort Pierce, Florida, that killed three people in August. Officials investigating that wreck discovered that the driver had failed both English and road sign tests.

The Florida incident raised serious questions about how individuals without proper language skills or testing credentials were able to obtain commercial driving licenses. State licensing agencies are supposed to ensure that all commercial drivers can effectively communicate with law enforcement and understand critical road signage. The failure to enforce these basic safety requirements has created dangerous conditions on American highways.

Transportation officials have identified language barriers as a significant safety concern among commercial truck drivers nationwide. The inability to read road signs, understand traffic regulations, or communicate effectively with law enforcement during emergencies poses serious risks to all highway users. These incidents demonstrate the potentially fatal consequences when proper screening and testing procedures are not followed.

Federal English Language Requirements Enforcement

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has taken a strong stance on enforcing English language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers across all states. In a statement released on October 15, Duffy warned state governments about the consequences of failing to comply with federal standards. "I put states on notice this summer: enforce the Trump Administration's English language requirements or the checks stop coming," Duffy declared.

California has been specifically identified as the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure commercial truck drivers can read road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This defiance of federal safety standards has prompted the Trump administration to take decisive action against the state. Duffy characterized English language proficiency as "a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America's road."

The federal government's enforcement efforts include significant financial penalties for non-compliant states that continue to issue commercial licenses without proper language testing. These measures are designed to create strong incentives for states to prioritize highway safety over other considerations. The policy represents a broader push to standardize commercial driver requirements across all states, regardless of local political preferences.

Lessons to Learn

1. Driver safety standards matter: Ensuring all commercial drivers meet necessary qualifications — especially language proficiency — can directly affect road safety for everyone. It's essential to follow requirements that enable drivers to read signs and communicate with emergency responders.

2. Border enforcement and verification: This case underscores the importance of carefully processing immigration cases, especially when individuals gain access to positions that carry a high level of public safety responsibility. Thorough vetting is critical to prevent tragedies.

3. Be cautious on highways: Sadly, even when we follow all traffic laws, another driver’s recklessness can have deadly consequences. Stay aware, practice defensive driving, and always report erratic or reckless drivers to authorities. But remember: even the most cautious driver can be at risk, so we should never blame the victims.

Why This Story Matters

This crash isn’t just a tragedy — it is a case that highlights systemic issues in immigration policy, driver credentialing, and federal compliance enforcement. When oversight breaks down, lives are put at risk. This story raises questions about how to manage safety while balancing immigration and transportation policies.

Conclusion

A tragic highway crash in San Bernardino County has resulted in the deaths of three people and shed new light on lapses in immigration and transportation policy enforcement. Authorities say Jashanpreet Singh, an Indian national in the U.S. illegally, caused the crash while intoxicated after entering the country in 2022. He had been released under a federal policy and later obtained the means to drive a commercial vehicle despite apparent language deficiencies. The case has prompted federal officials to impose penalties on California for failing to enforce commercial driver language proficiency requirements and has drawn national attention as a second similar case involving another unauthorized Indian immigrant has recently emerged.