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Arash Singh, a 25-year-old Sikh truck driver, has spent thousands of miles on US highways hauling goods from Washington to California, navigating ice storms, heavy traffic, and occasional harassment because of his turban.“As an immigrant driver,” he told New York Times, “there is plenty you always must think about.”Singh sought asylum in US in 2022 and recently faced the threat of losing his commercial driver licence under new federal rules targeting foreign drivers. California began revoking licences after audits found thousands of commercial licences were improperly issued. Singh received a notice saying he needed proof of permanent residency or citizenship to keep his licence. He has neither, although a federal court has temporarily stayed the rules.The crackdown followed two fatal crashes involving Sikh truck drivers in California and drew criticism from immigrant advocacy groups. US transportation secretary Sean Duffy said the measures aimed to improve safety and compliance among foreign drivers. Democrats and Blue state leaders said the the rules unfairly target legally working immigrants.Sikhs have a long history in American trucking with many settling in California. Today, around 150,000 Sikhs work in the trucking industry in the US, with a quarter of Sikh adults employed in the sector, according to the North American Punjabi Trucking Association.Singh said the work is vital for his family. Most of his earnings go to truck payments and sending money to relatives in India. “Every day, I miss my home, but it’s better here,” he said. “I can work and support my family. It’s safer for me here.”He described the day-to-day challenges of life on the road, including long hours, solitary meals, and adjusting his routine to avoid drawing unecessary attention. However, Singh said he remains committed to driving. “I want to work,” he said.Officials in California, including City Council member Manpreet Kaur, said the policy is creating fear in the trucking community. “People are scared,” she said. “This is yet another immigrant community being targeted.”
Two major accidents caused by Sikh truck drivers
- In August, a semi‑truck on the Florida Turnpike attempted an illegal U‑turn and blocked oncoming traffic, causing a minivan to crash into the trailer and killing all three people inside. The driver was a 28-year-old Indian national named Harjinder Singh who had entered US without documentation and obtained a commercial licence in California. He survived the collision. He has been charged with vehicular homicide and manslaughter in connection with the crash, which was captured on vehicle recorder footage.
- In October 2025, Jashanpreet Singh, a 21‑year‑old Indian‑origin truck driver from California, was involved in a chain‑reaction crash on Interstate 10 in Ontario, California. Officials said his truck ploughed into slow‑moving traffic, killing three people and injuring others. He was arrested and charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of drugs.
