NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Recently released bodycam footage features Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant truck driver, displaying limited English proficiency during a police traffic stop in New Mexico. This incident, which took place last month, has become a focal point in his ongoing legal case.
The video captures Singh being pulled over by a New Mexico State Police officer on July 3 for allegedly speeding at 60 mph in a 45-mph zone. Singh is the same individual accused of causing a deadly crash in Florida after making an illegal U-turn.
In the footage, Singh appears remorseful while receiving his speeding ticket. While he communicates fluently at first, difficulties arise after he signs paperwork, resulting in confusion between him and the officer.
Bodycam still shows Harjinder Singh holding paperwork as a New Mexico State Police officer issues him a speeding ticket during a July 3 traffic stop. (New Mexico State Police bodycam)
Singh’s limited English proficiency has come under scrutiny since the Department of Transportation (DOT) reported that he failed an English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment after the fatal crash in Florida. He correctly answered only 2 out of 12 questions and identified just 1 of 4 traffic signs, raising serious concerns about his ability to operate commercial vehicles.
Additionally, during his July 3 stop, Singh did not undergo an ELP test, which the DOT declared mandatory starting June 25. Law enforcement officers are required to conduct such checks during routine inspections.
Afterward, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler refuted claims from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy regarding the state’s enforcement of English requirements. Weisler emphasized that federal officials misunderstood New Mexico’s Commercial Driver’s License policies and stated that no standardized testing procedure had been provided.
Singh, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2018, faces three counts of vehicular homicide related to the Florida crash and was extradited to Florida to face charges. The DOT discovered that Singh obtained a full-term commercial driver’s license in Washington in July 2023, despite illegal immigrants being ineligible for such licenses. Following that, he received a limited-term license in California, prompting an investigation into its compliance with federal regulations.
Fox News’ Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
