Plea for leniency for truck driver in fatal Florida collision

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis strongly criticized what he perceives as failures in immigration policies as millions of people online showed support for 28-year-old Harjinder Singh, a native of India and the driver involved in a fatal crash on the Florida Turnpike. Singh is accused of causing the crash by making an illegal U-turn, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Authorities revealed that Singh is currently residing in the United States without legal documentation and had obtained a commercial driver's license from California, one of the 19 states that issue licenses regardless of immigration status. Facing potential imprisonment of up to 45 years and deportation, Singh's case sparked an online petition advocating for a "fair sentencing," amassing approximately 2.7 million signatures. The petition argues that the incident was a tragic accident and appeals for more lenient penalties such as counseling or community service. Governor DeSantis has criticized California's policies, attributing them to the crash. On the other hand, California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that Singh acquired his work permit during President Donald Trump's tenure, contradicting claims made by the Department of Homeland Security. Singh, who was denied bond by a judge, remains in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Florida. When approached regarding the petition and its requests, DeSantis' office responded that in Florida, criminal actions result in consequences.