Florida investigators say a semi-truck driven by Harjinder Singh attempted an illegal U-turn across an “official use only” median opening on the Florida Turnpike on 12 Aug., blocking north-bound lanes near Fort Pierce. A minivan slammed into the trailer, killing its three occupants—a 30-year-old driver, a 37-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man. Singh, whose passenger was unhurt, was arrested four days later and now faces three counts of vehicular homicide. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Singh is an Indian national who crossed the California–Mexico border illegally in 2018. He later obtained a California commercial driver’s licence after securing a federal employment authorisation that was rejected under the Trump administration in 2020 but approved on 9 June 2021. An ICE detainer has been lodged, and officials say he will be deported after any state sentence is served. The deaths have ignited a political dispute over California’s decision—shared by 18 other states and the District of Columbia—to issue licences to undocumented residents. The Department of Homeland Security called the practice “asinine,” while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the policy “armed this illegal alien with the ability to operate a 40-ton killing machine.” Florida Attorney-General James Uthmeier said his office is exploring litigation against California, arguing the state’s rules endanger drivers nationwide. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said federal auditors have uncovered “serious red flags” in how some states vet non-citizen applicants and signalled possible nationwide enforcement at truck weigh stations. DHS officials added they are working with the Transportation Department to prevent undocumented migrants from obtaining commercial credentials, underscoring that the Florida crash will form part of a broader review of state licensing standards.