A tragic incident occurred in Lodi, California, involving an illegal immigrant truck driver. Manveer Singh, an illegal immigrant, faces charges of vehicular manslaughter. This charge follows a deadly crash with his semi-truck. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Singh’s capture and release at the Arizona border earlier this year.
Federal officials and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are advocating for ‘Delilah’s Law.’ This proposed law would ban illegal immigrants from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses.
In a related event, Michael E. Pahira Jr., a Pennsylvania State Police trooper, died in a crash involving another noncitizen truck driver. This crash continues the trend of fatal accidents involving noncitizen commercial truck drivers. Such incidents have led to tighter regulations on commercial driver’s licenses by the Trump administration.
Details of the Incident
On a Wednesday morning, Pahira was conducting a vehicle inspection on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County. A semi-truck veered off the road, hitting his patrol car and the truck under inspection before striking Pahira. Both trucks caught fire. Pahira died later at a hospital.
The driver responsible is Michael Bon, a 33-year-old Haitian national. He lives in Brockton, Massachusetts and faces several charges, including homicide by vehicle and reckless driving. Bon’s bail is set at $700,000 in Schuylkill County Prison. His next court date is July 15.
DHS has issued an immigration detainer against Bon. He entered the United States via Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in July 2024 under a humanitarian parole but overstayed after his parole ended in June 2025.
In March 2025, Bon obtained a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license in Massachusetts. At that time, he was federally authorized to work. The Trump administration later directed states to stop granting or renewing non-domiciled CDLs for ineligible drivers.
Regulatory Reactions
Following several fatal accidents involving non-domiciled CDL holders, Sean Duffy prioritized tightening commercial driver licensing rules. Fatal crashes across various states, including Wyoming, Florida, and California, have drawn attention to the issue.
In his State of the Union address, President Trump noted at least 17 fatal crashes in 2025 involved illegal immigrants driving commercial vehicles. The Department of Transportation has taken actions, such as withholding more than $73 million in federal funds from New York for not revoking CDLs from ineligible drivers.
Transportation Secretary Duffy stated his commitment to enhancing the integrity of the trucking industry. He emphasized the importance of properly vetting truck drivers to safeguard American families.
A Personal Loss
Michael Pahira joined the Pennsylvania State Police in 2007, serving as a Motor Carrier Enforcement Inspector. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro paid tribute to Pahira, highlighting his dedication to family and community. Pahira recently returned home to care for his mother, who is battling cancer.
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