'ICE Barbie' Kristi Noem's crack at Gavin Newsom over killer migrant truck driver backfires
By Melissa Koenig
Daily Mail
Aug 18, 2025
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's swipe at California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday spectacularly backfired.
The so-called ICE Barbie attacked the outspoken Democrat after it was revealed that Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant from India, received a commercial driver's license from the Golden State in 2019.
Singh is now accused of making an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike last Tuesday, killing three people.
'[Three] innocent people were killed in Florida because Gavin Newsom's California DMV issued an illegal alien a Commercial Driver's License,' Noem posted on X.
'This gut-wrenching tragedy should have never happened,' she continued.
Noem added that the Department of Homeland Security will now work hand-in-hand with the federal Department of Transportation 'to root out and prevent illegal aliens from obtaining these licenses from sanctuary jurisdictions that put American drivers and passengers in danger.'
Homeland Security Spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin soon piled on, asking: 'How many more innocent people have to die before @GavinNewsom stops playing games with the American public?'
However, Newsom was not the governor of California when Singh illegally crossed the US-Mexico border in 2018, nor when he received a commercial driver's license, which is federally regulated.
The so-called ICE Barbie attacked the outspoken Democrat after it was revealed that Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant from India , received a commercial driver's license from the Golden State in 2019
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets standards for commercial driver's licenses in the United States, including testing requirements and driver qualifications.
Individual states are only charged with setting specific procedures, fees and renewal cycles, and issuing the licenses.
When Singh received his commercial driver's license in 2019, President Donald Trump was in his first term in office - something Newsom's office was quick to point out.
'Hey genius: the federal government (TRUMP ADMIN) already confirmed that this guy meets federal and state immigration requirements - YOU issued him a work permit,' Newsom's press office fired back.
'As usual, the Trump Administration is either lying or clueless,' the press office added, after gaining attention for its fiery posts mocking the president.
Singh's arrest has sparked fresh debate over immigration, as it was revealed he was at one point earmarked for a fast-track deportation back to India but managed to stay in the United States after claiming he had a 'fear' of returning to his home country.
Immigration officials accepted his claims, which gave him a case for asylum in the US under American immigration law that would be tested in court.
Singh was freed on a $5,000 immigration bond in January 2019 while his case was pending, as is standard practice for asylum seekers.
He was given a notice to appear before an immigration judge at a later date, but the huge backlog of asylum claims meant he never saw a courtroom.
Singh was earmarked for fast-track deportation after being caught crossing into California in 2018 - only to avoid being flown home to India after expressing 'fear' and claiming asylum
The illegal immigrant is now facing three counts of vehicular homicide and the Department of Homeland Security issued a detainer on him, applying to have him deported and calling him a 'significant threat to public safety.'
Shocking footage from inside Singh's enormous semi-truck caught the moment he performed the illegal U-turn at a high speed.
As he took up the entire highway, a minivan crashed directly into the side of the truck, unable to break quick enough to prevent the tragedy.
The area in which Singh was attempting to turn around was an 'official use only' pass, as was clearly stated on a no U-urn sign in front of it.
In the video, Singh remained calm as it became apparent the minivan had been completely demolished, with debris strewn across the highway.
He peered out the driver's side window immediately after the impact, before wordlessly putting the truck in park and turning off his engine.
All three people inside a minivan were killed in the crash
As he took up the entire highway, a minivan crashed directly into the side of the truck, unable to break quick enough to prevent the tragedy
All three occupants of the van were killed. Its driver - a 30 year-old man from Florida City - died after being flown to hospital by helicopter.
The passengers who also died were a 37 year-old woman from Pompano Beach and a 54 year-old man from Miami, NBC6 reported.
None of their identities have been released so far.
'Three people lost their lives as a result of his recklessness, and countless friends and family members will experience the pain of their loss forever,' Dave Kerner from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said.
'The actions taken by the defendant while operating a commercial tractor-trailer are both shocking and criminal.
'Harjinder Singh is in custody on state vehicular homicide charges and immigration violations.
'He will no longer be able to damage and destroy the lives of Floridians and visitors.'
Singh now faces up to 45 years behind bars, followed by automatic deportation as a felon.
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