Ontario, California, USA: Two deadly truck accidents involving Indian-origin drivers without legal status have reignited debate over California’s licensing policies and growing discrimination against immigrant communities.
U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Kaur Dhillon has urged the public to separate anger over these incidents from prejudice toward law-abiding Sikh and Indian-origin truckers.
“In the midst of these tragedies, some individuals have turned their outrage into an excuse to unfairly target Sikhs and Indian-origin drivers who follow the law and contribute to this country,” Dhillon said in a statement earlier this week.
Dhillon emphasised that most Sikh and Indian-origin truck drivers are hardworking, patriotic individuals who either immigrated through legal channels or were born in America. “They are our friends and neighbours, helping to keep America moving. They believe in the nation’s values and the rule of law,” she added.
Appointed in 2025 to lead the Civil Rights Division, Dhillon — an Indian-American lawyer and Republican Party figure — made her remarks after reports of bias incidents and online hostility followed two high-profile crashes that recently made national headlines.
In one case, a September collision in Florida killed three people when a truck driven by Harjinder Singh struck a minivan. Authorities later confirmed that Singh had entered the U.S. unlawfully from Mexico in 2018.
In another incident earlier this month in Ontario, California, 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh was taken into custody after his semi-truck crashed into an SUV, causing a chain reaction that killed three people and injured four others. Reports from ABC7 News indicated that Singh, who arrived illegally in 2022, had been residing in Yuba City, California.
Dhillon sharply criticised California’s policy allowing undocumented immigrants to hold commercial driver’s licenses, calling it a serious public safety concern. She stated that she had discussed the matter with Transportation Secretary Duffy, who is now taking measures to reduce such risks.
At the same time, Dhillon stressed that anger over these crashes should not be turned against innocent members of the Sikh or Indian-origin community. “It is wrong to hold an entire group accountable for the reckless actions of a few,” she said.
Reaffirming the Justice Department’s commitment, Dhillon added: “Federal law strictly prohibits discrimination or violence based on race, religion, colour, or national origin. The Civil Rights Division will pursue legal action against anyone involved in such acts.”
Calling for both accountability and restraint, Dhillon concluded: “Those directly responsible for these accidents must face justice — as should the State of California for enacting reckless policies. But innocent, law-abiding citizens deserve full protection under federal law, and we will ensure they receive it.”
