The tragic accident in Tennessee highlights a troubling reality in America’s current immigration system. A 31-year-old man, Kerry Smith, was killed due to the actions of a 54-year-old illegal immigrant, Yisong Huang, who reportedly couldn’t speak English. Despite this language barrier, Huang was granted a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in New York, a sanctuary state, after his entry into the U.S. in 2023.
Authorities assert that Huang’s ability to secure a CDL stemmed from the work authorization papers issued under the Biden administration. This system, criticized for its laxity, allowed Huang to become a bus driver despite his limited English proficiency. The situation escalated when Huang, allegedly distracted by a video on his phone, caused a major collision involving a tractor-trailer. Huang now faces charges of vehicular manslaughter.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has pointed fingers at the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for these failures. Huang’s case exposes a broader issue surrounding the issuance of driver’s licenses to individuals who may not be qualified. In fact, this trend has recently been linked to several deadly accidents involving illegal immigrants driving commercial vehicles. The DMV’s spokesperson, Walter McClure, deflects responsibility by claiming that commercial driver’s licenses are regulated by federal guidelines, which, he argues, New York complies with.
However, the core of the issue lies in the establishment of those federal rules designed under Biden’s administration. Critics argue that these regulations facilitated the process through which unqualified foreign drivers, often lacking basic language skills, obtained licenses. This has raised grave concerns about road safety. In Huang’s case, the DMV issued him a license even though he had reportedly failed an English proficiency test. This raises significant questions about how he or others like him were able to navigate the licensing process.
The situation is reminiscent of previous incidents involving illegal immigrants. Harjinder Singh, another driver, caused fatalities on the Florida Turnpike under similar conditions, also having received a license after being granted permission to stay in the U.S. The pattern showcases a systemic failure to properly vet individuals before putting them behind the wheel of dangerous vehicles.
Duffy and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem assert that this issue illustrates the dangerous consequences of Biden’s immigration policies. “It’s not just that Joe Biden let millions of migrants flood into our country illegally,” Duffy commented. “His administration doled out the documentation these unqualified foreign drivers needed.” Noem expressed concern over the fatalities resulting from illegal aliens driving commercial vehicles with inadequate oversight from sanctuary states.
The call for accountability is clear. Those who argue for stricter regulations suggest that it’s simply a matter of transparency: if the DMV in New York wants to aid in road safety, they should report the names of all illegal immigrants who received commercial licenses. It’s a straightforward solution, yet the complexity surrounding immigration enforcement muddles the path forward.
In the end, Huang’s case serves as a tragic reminder of the far-reaching implications of the current immigration framework. Lives are at stake, and as the collision that killed Kerry Smith illustrates, systemic changes are urgently needed. Whether or not those changes will come remains to be seen, but the cost of inaction is all too real.
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