DHS slams Gavin Newsom for falsely claiming illegal immigrant trucker who killed 3 in Florida was granted work permit by Trump admin

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office is under fire after claiming that under the first Trump administration, illegal immigrant Harjinder Singh, who has been charged with vehicular manslaughter after making a U-turn on a Florida highway, was granted a work authorization.

Newsom’s press office wrote on Monday, "Hey, Commander Cosplay: the federal government (YOU) already confirmed that this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements -- YOU issued him a work permit (EAD). Oops. As usual, you are either lying or clueless."

The post came in response to one from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who wrote, "3 innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom’s California DMV issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver’s License. This gut wrenching tragedy should have never happened. My team at DHS will work with US DOT to root out and prevent illegal aliens from obtaining these licenses from sanctuary jurisdictions that put American drivers and passengers in danger."

DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin wrote in response to Newsom’s press office, "False. Harjinder Singh is in the United States illegally and his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on September 14, 2020. It was later approved under the Biden Administration June 9, 2021. The state of California issues Commercial Drivers Licenses. There is no national CDL. Sincerely, Genius."

Singh has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with a deadly crash on the Florida Turnpike on Tuesday. Singh was driving a semi-truck and made a U-turn from the right lane into a turnaround marked "official use only" for emergency vehicles.

A minivan driving in the left lane was unable to stop in time, resulting in the deaths of the 30-year-old man in the driver’s seat, and two passengers: a 37-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man.