A California court this week sentenced Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old Indian national, to four years and eight months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. The sentencing follows an eight-vehicle collision on Interstate 10 in San Bernardino County last October, which resulted in the deaths of three individuals. Dashcam footage reportedly showed Singh, the driver of a semi-truck involved in the incident, did not apply his brakes.
"5 years is a slap on the wrist for KILLING 3 AMERICANS. If California followed the rules, illegal aliens like Jashanpreet Singh wouldn’t be driving 80,000 pound missiles down our roads We won’t stop until ALL illegal truckers are put out of business and held accountable." — Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary
The relatively short sentence has ignited a wave of criticism from federal officials, who argue it is insufficient and highlights systemic failures in immigration and licensing policies. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a strong condemnation, stating, "5 years is a slap on the wrist for KILLING 3 AMERICANS. If California followed the rules, illegal aliens like Jashanpreet Singh wouldn’t be driving 80,000 pound missiles down our roads We won’t stop until ALL illegal truckers are put out of business and held accountable."
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) echoed these sentiments, labeling Singh a "criminal illegal alien" and criticizing California as a "sanctuary" state. DHS affirmed its intention to ensure Singh does not return to U.S. roads. "Despite taking the lives of 3 people in a horrific eight-vehicle crash, criminal illegal alien Jashanpreet Singh was given a SLAP ON THE WRIST prison sentence of less than 5 years in sanctuary California," the agency stated. "Illegal aliens like this killer should NEVER be allowed behind the wheel or on our nation’s roads. ICE stands ready to arrest Singh upon his release so he is never allowed back on our roads to take another innocent life." Senator Mike Lee of Utah also weighed in, calling the punishment "wildly insufficient" for a foreign national in the country illegally who caused three deaths.
Singh's presence in the United States dates back to March 2022, when he illegally crossed the border at California's El Centro Sector. Federal sources indicate that the Biden administration released him into the interior of the country while his immigration case was pending a hearing. By the time of the fatal crash, his immigration status remained unresolved.
A key point of contention for federal officials is how Singh obtained a commercial driver's license (CDL). California issued him a CDL in June 2025, according to the Department of Transportation. This occurred despite prior warnings from federal regulators to California regarding lapses in its vetting process for commercial license applicants. Federal authorities had specifically instructed California officials to temporarily halt issuing new licenses to non-citizens and to audit existing licenses. Reporting has suggested that Singh should have been barred from receiving his license under an emergency federal policy. California officials, however, maintained that his paperwork, including federally issued employment authorization documents, met the state's requirements.
The fallout from Singh's case has extended beyond the courtroom, impacting the ongoing gubernatorial race in California. An April debate among candidates highlighted a significant partisan divide on the stringentness required for screening commercial drivers. A particular focus was a Trump administration initiative advocating for roadside English proficiency testing for truckers, a policy that several Democratic candidates openly rejected.
Democratic candidate Tom Steyer expressed strong opposition to such testing, cautioning that it could lead to discrimination. "Racial profiling is illegal. And, in fact, picking on people based on the color of their skin in the state of California, is illegal," Steyer stated when questioned about supporting roadside language testing. Xavier Becerra, former Biden Health and Human Services Secretary, also a Democratic candidate, criticized a specific incident shown during the debate, which depicted an officer testing a Spanish-speaking driver's ability to read road signs. Becerra questioned the officer's intent, asking, "Is that officer asking everyone he pulls over to explain those road signs? Or, is he asking only people who look like me? If he’s doing that, then he’s violating the law."
In contrast, Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco, who was later eliminated from the race, dismissed the discrimination arguments. "Let’s stop with this whole racism thing, and racial profiling and all of this garbage. We have to get over this. You either violated the law or you didn’t. End of story," Bianco asserted. "Consequences for bad behavior."
Jashanpreet Singh remains incarcerated. Federal immigration authorities have stated they are prepared to take custody of him immediately upon the conclusion of his state prison sentence, with the stated aim of preventing his return to the nation's highways.
