Sikh trucker crashes American dreams of many immigrants from Punjab

The TOI correspondent from Washington: The American dream for thousands of Sikh immigrants from India is hanging in the balance following a second high-profile, fatal trucking accident involving a driver with a controversial immigration history, triggering a wave of scrutiny and fear across the Punjabi trucking community. The latest horrific incident occurred Tuesday on a California freeway, where three people were killed, leading to the arrest of the truck driver on charges of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence (DUI).

The driver, Jashanpreet Singh, an employee of Sandhu Transport, is reportedly an Indian illegal immigrant who was released from border custody by the Biden administration in 2022 – a trigger for more MAGA backlash against immigrants. According to police reports, Singh was driving at high speed while intoxicated and failed to apply the brakes, resulting in the multi-fatality crash. The identities of the three victims have not yet been established.


Also read | 'Illegal immigrant' Jashanpreet Singh arrested for killing 3; 21-year old Indian-origin was under influence

This tragedy comes just months after a similar incident on August 12 on a Florida Turnpike when another India-born truck driver, Harjinder Singh, allegedly made an illegal U-turn in his tractor-trailer, blocking the roadway and causing a minivan collision that also killed three people. Authorities allege Harjinder Singh entered the US illegally in 2018 and controversially obtained a commercial driver's license (CDL) despite reports he failed an English proficiency test, highlighting systemic concerns over immigrant licensing and regulatory oversight.

The back-to-back crashes and the focus on the drivers' legal status have cast a shadow over a community that has successfully carved out a vital niche in the US economy. The major influx of Sikhs to the US began in the 1980s and 1990s, with many fleeing anti-Sikh violence in India following prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination.

Trucking emerged as an accessible entry point for these immigrants, many of whom arrived with limited English proficiency and no formal education. With annual salaries often ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, without requiring advanced degrees or language fluency, long-haul truck driving became the go-to for many Sikh immigrants.

Also read | ‘Hard to make dollars here’: How an Indian-origin man turned 'killer trucker' in US – what his friend revealed
Crucially, the independent nature of the job allows adherents to fully comply with the Sikh Articles of Faith, such as maintaining uncut hair (kesh), wearing a turban (dastar), and carrying a ceremonial dagger (kirpan)—practices often restricted in other work environments due to safety codes.

Sikh drivers have now become an indispensable component of the nation's supply chain, filling a chronic US driver shortage projected to hit 174,000 by 2026. The community created a self-sustaining ecosystem: early drivers mentored newcomers, leading to the formation of family businesses, truck stops, and advocacy groups like the North American Punjabi Trucking Association (NAPTA). Today, Sikhs own an estimated 20% of US trucking firms.

The Sikh workforce, comprising about 150,000 total individuals (with 135,000 drivers) in the industry, represents roughly 4% of the US total driver pool, including 40% of West Coast drivers. NAFTA even has a weekly news show, Punjabi Trucking 360, designed specifically for its truckers.

Following the accidents and the resulting media coverage, the broader Punjabi trucking community is reporting increased harassment and fears of being unfairly targeted. The actions of two individuals, particularly those involving allegations of DUI, vehicular manslaughter, and immigration fraud, have amplified MAGA rhetoric questioning the integrity of the entire immigrant driver workforce.

After the August crash, the more educated Sikh driving cohort sought to counter the stereotypes, but they face an uphill task. “Yes, we speak English. Yes, we understand the laws, the roads, the rules. We came here the right way — legally. We respect this land, its people, and its values. But sometimes, when we stop at a rest area or fuel station, we feel the looks — the doubt, the distance. We’re judged not by our hearts or our work, but by the mistakes of a few. That hurts… because we’re part of the same road, the same dream,” one social media post read. But the latest accident may well have run over that dream.