A series of fatal crashes involving commercial truck drivers allegedly in the U.S. illegally has prompted federal authorities to intensify scrutiny of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) and tighten regulations for truckers.
In July, Michael Bon, a Haitian national, was charged with vehicular homicide and other offenses in connection with the death of Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr. Authorities allege Bon struck Pahira during a roadside inspection. Bon had reportedly entered the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program in July 2024 and, despite his parole being terminated and an order for removal issued in June 2025, he remained in the country and obtained a non-domiciled CDL in Massachusetts.
This incident is part of a pattern highlighted by multiple fatal crashes across the country. In Florida, Harjinder Singh, an undocumented immigrant from India, was charged with vehicular homicide after a crash that killed three people, including a retired basketball coach and his wife. Records indicated Singh had failed the commercial driver's license knowledge exam multiple times and had difficulty communicating in English, despite a Washington state company certifying his proficiency.
In Washington, Kamalpreet Singh, an Indian national who allegedly crossed into the U.S. illegally in December 2023, was charged with vehicular homicide after a collision that killed a 29-year-old man. In Indiana, Singh Sukhdeep was charged with vehicular homicide after a crash that killed a 64-year-old man, with federal sources indicating he was in the country illegally and had obtained an Indiana CDL. Another crash in Indiana involving Bekzhan Beishekeev, a Kyrgyzstani national, resulted in four deaths, including members of an Amish community.
California has also seen high-profile cases, including one where federal officials accused Manvir Singh, an illegal immigrant from India, of causing a deadly multi-vehicle hit-and-run crash. A Department of Transportation review later found that Jashanpreet Singh should not have been issued a California CDL before a crash that killed three people due to systemic failures.
In Ohio, Bekhzod Asrarov, an Uzbek national, was arrested after allegedly causing a crash that killed a 21-year-old college soccer player. Sources reported Asrarov, who entered the U.S. on a visa, had difficulty communicating with state troopers in English and reportedly attempted to conceal and destroy evidence from his truck.
These incidents have led to federal actions aimed at strengthening trucking safety. The Department of Transportation has closed a loophole related to non-domiciled CDLs, reinstated enforcement of English-language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, and tightened eligibility rules for foreign truckers seeking credentials. Roadside enforcement has also been increased.
Lewie Pugh, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, stated that these crashes reflect broader safety issues and a lowering of standards in the trucking industry over decades, driven by a focus on profits over safety. He advocated for higher training standards and federal legislation to make Trump-era restrictions on non-domiciled CDLs permanent.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has indicated that the administration's reforms are intended to enhance highway safety by ensuring truck drivers can communicate effectively with law enforcement and emergency responders. He also noted that some drivers have failed post-crash English proficiency tests.
While acknowledging the seriousness of these cases, Pugh emphasized that the vast majority of professional truck drivers operate safely and are committed to highway safety.