Trump administration targets illegal alien truck drivers after Florida fatalities, declaring CDL crisis a national security threat
By willowt // 2025-08-20
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  • President Donald Trump’s executive order mandates English proficiency for commercial drivers and audits for non-resident CDLs following fatal accidents.
  • A Florida crash caused by an illegal immigrant driver with a California CDL highlights systemic risks.
  • Biden-era policies allegedly enabled asylum seekers and migrants to operate commercial vehicles with minimal oversight.
  • States like California, accused of lax enforcement, and sanctuary practices are central to the controversy.
  • Advocacy groups like American Truckers United link the crisis to national security and illegal immigration.
On Sunday, August 14, 2025, three Americans were killed when illegal immigrant Harjinder Singh—a truck driver granted a California CDL under the Biden administration—executed a reckless U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike near Fort Pierce. The collision, captured in harrowing video, underscored a crisis years in the making: the influx of unqualified, non-English-speaking commercial drivers empowered by sanctuary-state policies and globalist overreach. President Donald Trump’s administration has now launched a nationwide audit of commercial driver’s licenses, enforcing English proficiency mandates and blaming the prior regime’s open-border ethos for a surge in fatalities and security risks.

Florida Turnpike crash sparks national outcry

Singh, a 28-year-old Indian national who illegally crossed the southern border in 2018, had been denied work authorization under Trump but received it in 2021 under Biden. Florida authorities and DHS confirmed he leveraged this permit to obtain a California CDL despite lacking residency in the state. On August 14, while hauling a tractor-trailer in Fort Pierce, Singh made an illegal U-turn in an “Official Use Only” zone, jackknifing his rig and crushing a minivan. Two victims died instantly; a third succumbed hours later in a hospital. Singh, captured on video calmly shutting off the engine after the crash, faces three counts of vehicular homicide. Florida Department of Highway Safety Director Dave Kerner condemned Singh’s actions as “shocking and criminal,” while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted systemic failures: “This tragedy is the result of Democrat-run sanctuary states granting CDLs to unvetted migrants. Biden’s policies have turned highways into death traps.”

Policy overhaul: English proficiency mandates and CDL audits

In April, Trump signed an executive order requiring truck drivers to demonstrate English proficiency for “navigating traffic signs, speaking with law enforcement and preventing emergencies.” A concurrent audit of non-domiciled CDLs—a loophole allowing drivers to bypass residency requirements—will now scrutinize states like California for issuing licenses to non-residents. Duffy’s team claims these policies, initially intended for convenience, have become a “backdoor for illegal aliens to operate multi-ton vehicles.” American Truckers United (ATU), a conservative advocacy group pivotal in shaping Trump’s reforms, hailed the crackdown. “God’s will prevails as we restore accountability to America’s roads,” said ATU co-founder Shannon Everett. “Biden’s lax immigration system incentivized employers to hire migrants unqualified to operate machinery worth millions. This isn’t just a safety issue—it’s a deliberate undermining of U.S. sovereignty.”

Roots of crisis: Migrants, sanctuary loopholes and Biden’s immigration legacy

The Florida incident is the latest in a string of fatal accidents tied to migrant truckers. In June 2025, Mexican national Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza caused a Texas collision fatal to two; earlier, Cuban driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos killed four in Colorado (2019). Critics allege sanctuary states like California exploit non-domiciled CDL rules to shield illegal residents from federal scrutiny. DHS data reveals nearly 200,000 non-domiciled licenses were issued in 2024—up 30% from Trump’s presidential term. “These licenses lack adequate background checks,” noted ATU’s executive director. “A driver with a history of DUIs, fraud, or illegal entry can slip through if a state Democrat prioritizes compassion over security.” The Biden administration’s failure to enforce 2015 ELP (English Language Proficiency) rules further compounded risks. Over 10,000 truckers now face “out-of-service” orders for language deficiencies—a figure advocacy groups call a fraction of the true total.

Greed over safety: National security and the fight over borders

The crisis transcends traffic safety. “Every time a foreign-born driver fails a stop sign, it’s an attack on our freedom,” said Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, who signed strict CDL reforms in May 2025. Stitt’s law, the first of its kind, mandates English fluency and ties CDLs to residency—echoing ATU’s push to “restore American control over American roads.” President Trump framed the issue as a litmus test for sovereignty: “The left is weaponizing immigration to erase the values that made this nation great. Families deserve borders they can trust—on our roads and at our southern frontier.”

The road to reconquest: How Trump and faith-based advocacy are saving American highways

As Florida families mourn, Trump’s team renews its pledge to audit licenses, enforce English proficiency and revoke sanctions against states and companies complicit in hiring unqualified migrants. The national debate over immigration and trucking now mirrors broader GOP themes of law enforcement, accountability and resilience against globalist destabilization. Yet challenges persist: while Oklahomans champion state-level reforms, states like California resist audits—pointing to federal-state tensions. For American Truckers United, perseverance in courtrooms and Capitol Hill is the next frontier. “This isn’t just about CDLs,” Everett said. “It’s about saving homes, jobs and lives from the chaos of open borders. God is leading this fight—and we’ll keep rallying until every American is safe.” Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com AmericanTruckers.com DailyCaller.com AOL.com
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