Recent fatal crashes involving commercial trucks driven by individuals with disputed immigration status have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations and for states to revoke licenses issued to undocumented immigrants.
In July, Jashanpreet Singh, a 21-year-old Indian national, was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for a fatal collision on Interstate 10 in Ontario, California, on October 21, 2025. Singh, who had entered the U.S. illegally in March 2022 and was released by the Biden administration, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. He was issued a restricted non-domiciled CDL by California in June 2025, with the restriction removed upon his 21st birthday. Six days later, he was involved in the crash that killed Clarence and Lisa Nelson, and Jaime Flores Garcia.
Another incident on July 1 involved Haitian national Michael Bon, who allegedly drove onto the shoulder of Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania and killed Trooper Michael Pahira Jr. Bon's humanitarian immigration parole had been terminated in June 2025, but Massachusetts renewed his CDL, citing the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database still showing him eligible. Bon faces charges including homicide by vehicle.
On July 5, Uzbek national Bekhzod Asrarov allegedly rear-ended a car on Interstate 71 in Ohio, killing 21-year-old Tobias Forsythe. Asrarov, who had entered the U.S. legally, faces charges for allegedly removing the truck's dash camera, and prosecutors indicated additional charges could follow. Authorities noted Asrarov required translation assistance at the scene and attempted to conceal the dash camera, raising questions about the enforcement of English and competence requirements for his CDL.
These incidents are part of a series that have drawn attention to the licensing of non-domiciled CDLs. On February 3, Bekzhan Beishekeev, admitted through the Biden administration's CBP One app and parole policy, was driving a truck in Indiana when he allegedly crossed the center line, killing four people. Pennsylvania issued his CDL after he was listed as eligible in SAVE, though the Department of Homeland Security later deemed him unlawfully present.
On April 11, Modou Ngom, a naturalized U.S. citizen, allegedly drove into construction traffic in Ohio, killing Luke, Lynnea, and Logan Soposki. Investigators stated Ngom used multiple names and birth dates to obtain an Ohio license, a CDL, and U.S. citizenship under an alternate identity.
On May 19, Indian national Manvir Singh, who had crossed illegally into Arizona in 2023 and was released, allegedly drove a semi-truck into traffic near Lodi, California, killing two passengers, aged 16 and 20, before fleeing. He has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter and related charges.
These five cases, occurring between February and July, resulted in 11 deaths.
In response to these events, former President Donald Trump announced a plan on July 15 to make veterans who drove heavy military vehicles automatically eligible for civilian CDLs. The following day, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security announced a joint operation targeting approximately 75 CDL schools suspected of falsifying training records, issuing improper certifications, or failing to train drivers adequately.
Proponents of stricter regulations argue that every non-domiciled CDL should require a traceable file documenting the examiner, supervisor, immigration status check, medical clearance, language assessment, and training provider. They advocate for the immediate suspension of unlawfully issued licenses and for sanctuary policies to provide no shield from liability. The stance is that CDLs should expire with a holder's immigration status, preventing their issuance to illegal immigrants. Furthermore, there are calls for states to shut down fraudulent driving schools and for carriers that knowingly hire ineligible drivers to have their business licenses revoked. States that violate federal licensing rules, such as California, could face the loss of highway funds.