Overview

• Harjinder Singh was ordered held without bond after a St. Lucie County judge found probable cause for three vehicular homicide counts and three manslaughter counts, with an ICE detainer preventing release.
• Florida authorities say Singh entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and later obtained a California commercial license after work authorization, a timeline disputed by DHS officials and California’s governor’s office.
• The State Department paused issuance of some worker visas for commercial truck drivers, with officials indicating the action primarily affects limited H-2B cases and certain E-2 and EB-3 applicants.
• DOT and the FMCSA have opened investigations into licensing and carrier compliance as political tensions rose, including Florida sending its lieutenant governor to escort Singh from California and California dismissing the move as a photo op.
• A Change.org petition calling for leniency surpassed 1.6 million signatures, prompting counter-petitions urging strict prosecution and calls to scrutinize supporters, while Singh’s brother Harneet remains in ICE custody.