Illegal Immigrant Truck Driver Accused in Fatal California Crash Had Been Released by Biden Administration

Released After 2022 Border Crossing

A 21-year-old Indian national who entered the United States illegally in 2022 and was released under the Biden administration’s “alternatives to detention” policy is now accused of causing a deadly crash in Southern California.

According to multiple federal law enforcement sources cited by Fox News, the suspect, identified as Jashanpreet Singh, was first encountered by Border Patrol agents in California’s El Centro Sector in March 2022. He was released into the interior of the country pending an immigration hearing.

Fatal Crash on the I-10 Freeway

Singh has since been arrested for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after allegedly driving his semi-truck into slow-moving traffic on the I-10 Freeway in San Bernardino County. Dashcam video reportedly shows Singh failing to brake before the collision, which left three people dead and several others injured.

Toxicology reports confirmed impairment, according to police. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Singh is not in lawful immigration status, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer following his arrest.

Broader Safety Concerns

The incident has renewed debate over immigration enforcement and commercial driver safety. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently called on states to enforce federal English language requirements for truck drivers, citing safety risks. “California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement,” Duffy said.

The Trump administration announced last week it would withhold more than $40 million in highway safety funding from California for failing to comply with federal language proficiency standards.