What started as a serious crash on Interstate 65 in Indianapolis quickly turned into an immigration case, after a truck driver accused of striking a pedestrian was handed over to federal agents at the scene. Indiana State Police led the initial investigation into the Friday collision, which left the pedestrian hospitalized in critical condition, before Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took custody of the driver. The arrest has thrown a fresh spotlight on how non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses are issued to people who do not live in the United States.
According to the Daily Caller News Foundation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement took custody of 25-year-old Sukhdev Singh, an Indian national alleged to be living unlawfully in the U.S. In a statement provided to the outlet, Department of Homeland Security Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said, “It is common sense: illegal aliens should not be operating 18-wheelers on American highways,” and warned states against issuing commercial driver’s licenses to people without lawful status. The report states Singh allegedly hit a pedestrian on March 6 and that the victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
Federal Crackdown on Non-Domiciled CDLs
Federal transportation regulators have been tightening the rules on who can hold “non-domiciled” commercial driver’s licenses after audits found several states issuing those credentials improperly to non-U.S. residents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s review lists New York and Indiana among states flagged for potential noncompliance, and the agency keeps a running tally of states under preliminary determinations on its website. The FMCSA and national reporting show the agency has finalized new restrictions on eligibility that take effect March 16, 2026, and that those audits have prompted federal warnings to some states. AP News reported the department warned New York it could face federal funding cuts over improper issuance of these licenses.
Indiana Lawmakers Press for Tougher Enforcement
At the Statehouse in Indianapolis, lawmakers are already moving to clamp down. Proposed bills would require commercial driver’s license tests to be taken in English and would create felony penalties for drivers or trucking companies that use fake or improperly issued CDLs. Gov. Mike Braun has said his office is auditing non-domiciled CDLs, and supporters argue the push is about safety after several crashes involving out-of-state commercial license holders. Local coverage describes the proposed penalties and legislative package as part of a broader road-safety response. WRTV reported the developments.
What Investigators Say and What Remains Unclear
So far, investigators have not publicly announced any criminal charges stemming from the I-65 collision. It also was not immediately clear when Singh first entered the United States, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation. Records cited in that reporting indicate he obtained a New York non-domiciled CDL on Jan. 2, 2025, exactly the type of credential federal regulators are now moving to restrict. As local prosecutors and federal immigration officials sort out custody and potential charges, the case is poised to test how the new FMCSA restrictions align with what Indiana lawmakers are trying to enforce on the ground.
