Senate GOP Bill Targets Illegal Immigrant Truckers After Deadly Florida Crash ‘English Isn’t Optional’

A Senate Republican is pushing new legislation to tighten federal rules on commercial driver’s licenses following a Florida highway tragedy that left three people dead.

Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., announced plans to introduce the Safer Truckers Act of 2025, which would block illegal immigrants from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and strengthen English-language requirements for applicants.

“If you’re a commercial truck driver in America, being able to competently read the road signs in English isn’t optional… it’s the job,” Moody said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

The bill comes after Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant from India, allegedly made an unauthorized U-turn in a tractor-trailer on Aug. 12 in Florida. The truck jackknifed into a minivan, killing all three of its passengers. Singh, who previously held licenses in Washington and California, now faces three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of manslaughter.

While some states permit non-citizens to receive standard driver’s licenses, CDLs fall under federal regulation and require proof of lawful permanent residency or an Employment Authorization Document.

Moody’s proposal would ensure that only U.S. citizens, green card holders, or individuals with valid work visas can receive CDLs. It would also mandate states to enforce English proficiency requirements consistent with President Donald Trump’s executive order earlier this year. States failing to comply could lose federal transportation funding.

Federal investigators revealed Singh had failed both English proficiency and road sign tests before the crash. Moody emphasized accountability, stating: “States must ensure that folks are safe on our roadways, and if they don’t, they should forfeit federal funding.”