Florida launches statewide crackdown on out‑of‑state immigrant truck drivers after deadly Turnpike crash

Florida has launched a sweeping enforcement campaign aimed at out‑of‑state immigrant truck drivers after the Florida Turnpike crash on August 12, 2025, that killed three people. State officials have converted 23 highway weigh stations into immigration checkpoints, stepped up document checks for commercial drivers, and are coordinating arrests with federal agents. The push, led by Attorney General James Uthmeier and backed by Governor Ron DeSantis, targets drivers with commercial licenses issued in so‑called sanctuary states and those who lack legal status.

Florida says it is acting to protect public safety and to shore up licensing standards it claims were ignored elsewhere. The federal government, meanwhile, has paused the issuance of certain truck driver visas, adding a national dimension to a fast‑moving state crackdown.

Checkpoint operations and what drivers can expect

According to state announcements, officers stationed at the converted weigh stations—most clustered in North Florida and near the Florida‑Alabama line—now ask every commercial driver to present a commercial driver’s license and proof of lawful status during routine inspections.

• If records checks show a driver is undocumented or otherwise in violation of state or federal rules, officers detain the person on site and transfer custody to federal immigration authorities for removal proceedings.
• Uthmeier said: “If you have obtained a driver’s license from one of these sanctuary states…those licenses are no good here,” arguing California and Washington issued CDLs that, in Florida’s view, fall short on English proficiency and exam integrity.
• Governor DeSantis has framed the effort as a model for tough enforcement and as aligned with President Trump’s national deportation agenda.

Florida directs drivers and carriers to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for checkpoint locations and updates, available at https://www.fdacs.gov/.

Statewide enforcement after the Turnpike crash

The policy surge followed the Florida Turnpike crash that authorities say was caused by Harjinder Singh, a 28‑year‑old undocumented immigrant from India who held commercial licenses from California and Washington.

• Investigators say Singh entered the United States in 2018 without inspection, later obtained a work permit, and secured CDLs in two states Florida officials describe as sanctuary jurisdictions.
• Case filings say he previously failed to meet Florida’s English requirement for commercial drivers.
• The August 12 collision left three people dead and prompted a rapid response from Tallahassee.

Singh was arrested in California, extradited to Florida, and now faces six felony counts—three vehicular homicide and three manslaughter. A court ordered him held without bond, citing a substantial flight risk.

In a separate arrest, officers in Bay County detained Roberto Carlos Vergara, another undocumented driver operating with a New Jersey CDL, highlighting the state’s focus on out‑of‑state licensing.

How the converted stations operate

Florida has placed the new enforcement infrastructure where commercial traffic flows into the state. Officials converted weigh stations into multipurpose sites that handle safety checks and immigration screening, added pullover lanes to reduce backups, and set up X‑ray machines to inspect trailers. The stations are concentrated in the northern half of the state, including approaches from Alabama.

During stops, officers collaborate with U.S. Border Patrol and ICE, while the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed multiple recent arrests tied to the surge. Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said his department’s law enforcement arm is playing a larger role and is complying with federal executive orders that require English proficiency for commercial drivers.

The Attorney General has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to audit license testing in California and Washington, warning of possible decertification if problems are confirmed.

Standard checkpoint sequence

1. Stop and present documents: Every commercial truck is directed into the station. Drivers must show a CDL and proof of legal status.
2. Verification: Officers check license authenticity, run records against federal databases, and confirm English proficiency as required by federal law.
3. Detention when warranted: If a driver is undocumented or otherwise in violation, officers detain the person and place an ICE hold for removal.
4. Company scrutiny: State investigators open audits of carriers and third‑party examiners suspected of steering drivers around licensing or immigration rules.

Visa pause and national implications

Florida’s actions are unfolding alongside a federal pause on truck driver visas. Officials say issuance of H‑2B visas for foreign drivers has been suspended in the wake of the crash, affecting roughly 1,500 workers this fiscal year.

• While the pause is federal, Florida leaders hail it as part of a broader reset on safety standards tied to commercial driving.
• Uthmeier has formally requested a U.S. Department of Transportation audit of California and Washington with an eye to English testing and exam security.
• Federal agencies including ICE and U.S. Border Patrol are working with Florida at the checkpoints, and the Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged multiple recent deportations following arrests on the road.

Impact on drivers, companies, and supply chains

Florida’s guidance makes clear that any driver with an out‑of‑state CDL—especially one issued by California, Washington, or New Jersey—will face heightened scrutiny at the immigration checkpoints.

• For out‑of‑state immigrant truck drivers who lack legal status, the risk is detention and referral to ICE if records show a violation.
• Lawfully present drivers may face longer inspections as officers verify license integrity and English ability under federal rules.

Trucking companies operating in and through Florida are also under the microscope.

• The Attorney General’s office has opened investigations into employers suspected of hiring drivers with questionable credentials or of using third‑party testers that cut corners.
• State lawyers have warned of liability if carriers knowingly keep drivers on routes after being alerted to problems with status or license validity.
• Industry groups support strict safety enforcement but worry about ripple effects on freight capacity, especially with the visa pause removing a projected 1,500 seasonal or contract drivers nationwide this fiscal year.

Operational impacts reported since the enforcement shift:

• Heavier inspection traffic and longer waits at stations along I‑10 and I‑75.
• Schedule strains for carriers moving perishables through North Florida as rigs bunch up at checkpoint lanes.
• Potential for higher freight rates and tighter delivery windows for groceries, construction materials, and medical supplies.

Immigrant advocates call the measures sweeping and punitive, saying they punish entire communities for one driver’s actions.

• Families with mixed status have reported skipping road trips, avoiding certain corridors, or postponing moves.
• A large online petition—tallying 2.5 million signatures as of August 24—asks for leniency and due process for Harjinder Singh and others facing severe charges and deportation.
• Civil rights lawyers say they are preparing lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the stops and alleging unlawful targeting of noncitizens based on where their licenses were issued.

State officials counter that the same inspection rules apply to all commercial vehicles and that the additions relate to document verification and safety, not ethnicity or national origin.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the combined effect of checkpoint screenings, targeted license reviews, and the visa pause is likely to strain Florida’s trucking workforce in the short term. Carriers reliant on seasonal drivers could face gaps this fall, while immigrant drivers with valid status may experience added scrutiny and delays that ripple through delivery schedules.

Legal, political, and regulatory stakes

Florida’s crackdown sits at the intersection of state policing powers and federal authority over immigration and commercial licensing. Key elements and potential consequences:

• Civil rights groups question whether converting weigh stations into de facto immigration posts violates protections against unreasonable searches and seizures or intrudes on federal authority.
• State lawyers maintain the stations remain safety facilities first, with document checks folded into standard inspections.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation is auditing state CDL programs and could propose tighter national standards for English proficiency and exam integrity in response to the dispute.
• Uthmeier has warned that if audits find deficiencies, California and Washington’s CDL programs could face decertification—a step that would have sweeping interstate commerce consequences if it occurred.

Political messaging has been sharp: DeSantis positions Florida as a test case for stricter enforcement, consistent with President Trump’s call for broader deportation actions, while federal agencies continue to coordinate arrests and removals triggered by the new roadside checks.

Immediate guidance for drivers and carriers

Officials and industry briefings point to several immediate realities:

• Expect stops at the 23 converted weigh stations, primarily in North Florida and near the Alabama line.
• Be prepared to present a CDL and proof of legal status; officers will verify documents against federal databases.
• English proficiency may be assessed as part of compliance with federal requirements for commercial drivers.
• If a driver is undocumented or otherwise in violation, detention on site and transfer to federal custody should be expected.
• Carriers may face audits and potential sanctions if investigations show they enabled improper licensing or ignored status warnings.
• Additional pullover lanes and X‑ray machines are in place at key entry points to support the new screening.

Where things stand and what’s next

Florida’s complaint with so‑called sanctuary states centers on how CDL testing is conducted and how English is evaluated. Uthmeier’s federal audit request signals a willingness to escalate enforcement tools beyond checkpoints.

Public reaction remains divided:

• Some truckers support the sharper checks, saying the Turnpike crash exposed system weaknesses.
• Others fear overreach and collateral consequences for lawful drivers and freight flows.

State officials say they will open additional inspection sites and widen interdiction efforts in the coming weeks to focus on entry routes in North Florida. Industry representatives ask for clear timelines and metrics so carriers can plan around station delays. Immigrant advocates say they will monitor detentions to ensure people are offered counsel and due process while cases move through immigration courts.

Florida’s message to carriers and drivers is clear: the state will keep the 23 stations active, expand enforcement statewide, and press Washington to review licensing practices outside its borders. Out‑of‑state immigrant truck drivers should expect checks whenever they pass a roadside weigh station, and those lacking status face immediate arrest and referral to federal custody.

The investigation into the Florida Turnpike crash continues alongside probes of trucking firms and testing providers. With a federal visa pause affecting about 1,500 potential hires, the labor picture could tighten even if freight demand holds steady. Whether courts curb the checkpoint strategy, or federal audits produce new national guidelines, the coming weeks will decide how long this enforcement phase ultimately lasts.