The US has removed an online poster asking illegal aliens to self-deport, which used an AI-generated image of what appeared to be an Indian man and was captioned, ‘Get off our roads, Mr Singh’. But the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did so without any apology, despite the severe backlash, with one official calling the reaction ‘nonsensical drivel’ and ‘faux outrage’. DHS tried to explain the poster by saying it depicted Harjinder Singh, a Sikh truck driver who caused a fatal accident. Here is what happened.<h2>'Get off our roads, Mr Singh:' The offending poster</h2>Apparently inspired by the Transformers movie series, the poster showed what appeared to be the Autobot Optimus Prime (representing DHS) confronting an Indian-looking, brown-skinned, bearded man wearing a bandana-like head covering. The poster captions said: “America for Americans. Get off our roads, you don’t know how to drive, Mr. Singh,” and “Self-deport or find out.” The main title of the poster was “Transformers: America for Americans.”It was part of the self-deportation and Customs and Border Protection campaign targeting unlicensed or unauthorised commercial drivers on US roads.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/trump-administration-proposes-to-end-60-day-h-1b-grace-period-after-job-loss-indian-workers-may-be-hit-1789063258470">Trump administration proposes to end 60 day H-1B grace period after job loss; Indian workers to get impacted</a><h2>The reaction to the poster and political backlash</h2>The Sikh Coalition said, “Twenty-five years after 9/11, Sikhs are still being targeted and profiled for how we look,” while noting that millions of Sikhs and Hindus share the surname Singh. The Hindu American Foundation called the poster “racist, un-American, anti-Indian profiling/trolling”.The poster sparked a political firestorm, with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office calling it “disgusting racist propaganda targeting the Sikh community”.Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi said the Trump administration should never demonise people based on faith, heritage or identity, while noting that more than 160,000 people in the US share the surname Singh. Other Democrats, including Josh Harder, Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith and Debbie Dingell, condemned the poster as discriminatory. Harder said whoever allowed it should be fired.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/you-don-t-know-how-to-drive-mr-singh-us-federal-agency-s-anti-indian-post-sparks-outrage-sikh-coalition-netizens-react-1789029425624">'You don't know how to drive Mr Singh': US federal agency's 'anti-Indian' post sparks outrage; Sikh Coalition, netizens react</a><h2>Poster removed, but DHS digs in its heels on illegal alien drivers</h2>The poster was removed from the DHS official X account by Thursday night (Sep 10), nearly a day after it first appeared. DHS offered no explanation for the takedown. Hasbro, Inc., the company behind the Transformers franchise, meanwhile said the Optimus Prime imagery was used without permission and does not represent the Transformers brand.In different statements to the media, DHS officials insisted the poster was about Harjinder Singh, the Indian national facing vehicular homicide and manslaughter charges after pleading not guilty in connection with a fatal Florida Turnpike crash that killed three people. It said: “Harjinder Singh is an illegal alien from India who should never have been in our country.”In a separate statement, a DHS spokesperson called CBS channel's coverage of the backlash “nonsensical drivel” and described the overall response to the post as “faux outrage”.“Freedom from illegal alien crime is the right of all Americans,” it said.In a social media post directed at California Governor Newsom, DHS said, “Hey Gavin, YOU gave him his CDL [commercial driver's license] and then he killed three people with his tractor-trailer.” It made the post alongside a video related to the Florida crash involving Harjinder Singh.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyberattack-on-dhs-intelligence-network-sparks-fresh-us-national-security-concerns-1783069021029/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyberattack-on-dhs-intelligence-network-sparks-fresh-us-national-security-concerns-1783069021029/embed</a><h2>Recent Punjabi and Indian truck driver accident cases</h2>Harjinder Singh made a U-turn with a tractor-trailer that blocked lanes, leading to a minivan crashing into his vehicle and killing three people on August 12, 2025, in Florida. His case gained wide attention after it emerged that Singh had entered the US illegally via Mexico in 2018. He had California and Washington CDLs. He failed an English-proficiency test and road-sign tests during post-crash investigations.In October 2025, Jashanpreet Singh hit into traffic in California, killing three people. He had entered the US illegally in 2022. He was sentenced to four years and eight months in jail.Another undocumented Indian national, Rajinder Kumar, blocked lanes while driving a truck, which led to the deaths of a newlywed couple in October 2025. Several other cases involving Indian or Indian-origin drivers have been linked to fatal crashes since mid-2025. This has led to scrutiny of CDL standards, English proficiency and immigration status in the trucking industry in the US, where Indians, particularly those from Punjab, make up a significant portion of the industry.

An AI-generated poster from US homeland security department telling ‘Mr Singh’ to ‘get off our roads’ has now been removed. But DHS did not apologise for it, brushing aside the backlash from Sikh and Indian-American groups, as well as opposition politicians

The US has removed an online poster asking illegal aliens to self-deport, which used an AI-generated image of what appeared to be an Indian man and was captioned, ‘Get off our roads, Mr Singh’. But the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did so without any apology, despite the severe backlash, with one official calling the reaction ‘nonsensical drivel’ and ‘faux outrage’. DHS tried to explain the poster by saying it depicted Harjinder Singh, a Sikh truck driver who caused a fatal accident. Here is what happened. 'Get off our roads, Mr Singh:' The offending poster Apparently inspired by the Transformers movie series, the poster showed what appeared to be the Autobot Optimus Prime (representing DHS) confronting an Indian-looking, brown-skinned, bearded man wearing a bandana-like head covering. The poster captions said: “America for Americans. Get off our roads, you don’t know how to drive, Mr. Singh,” and “Self-deport or find out.” The main title of the poster was “Transformers: America for Americans.” It was part of the self-deportation and Customs and Border Protection campaign targeting unlicensed or unauthorised commercial drivers on US roads. Also read: Trump administration proposes to end 60 day H-1B grace period after job loss; Indian workers to get impacted The reaction to the poster and political backlash The Sikh Coalition said, “Twenty-five years after 9/11, Sikhs are still being targeted and profiled for how we look,” while noting that millions of Sikhs and Hindus share the surname Singh. The Hindu American Foundation called the poster “racist, un-American, anti-Indian profiling/trolling”. The poster sparked a political firestorm, with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office calling it “disgusting racist propaganda targeting the Sikh community”. Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi said the Trump administration should never demonise people based on faith, heritage or identity, while noting that more than 160,000 people in the US share the surname Singh. Other Democrats, including Josh Harder, Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith and Debbie Dingell, condemned the poster as discriminatory. Harder said whoever allowed it should be fired. Also read: 'You don't know how to drive Mr Singh': US federal agency's 'anti-Indian' post sparks outrage; Sikh Coalition, netizens react Poster removed, but DHS digs in its heels on illegal alien drivers The poster was removed from the DHS official X account by Thursday night (Sep 10), nearly a day after it first appeared. DHS offered no explanation for the takedown. Hasbro, Inc., the company behind the Transformers franchise, meanwhile said the Optimus Prime imagery was used without permission and does not represent the Transformers brand. In different statements to the media, DHS officials insisted the poster was about Harjinder Singh, the Indian national facing vehicular homicide and manslaughter charges after pleading not guilty in connection with a fatal Florida Turnpike crash that killed three people. It said: “Harjinder Singh is an illegal alien from India who should never have been in our country.” In a separate statement, a DHS spokesperson called CBS channel's coverage of the backlash “nonsensical drivel” and described the overall response to the post as “faux outrage”. “Freedom from illegal alien crime is the right of all Americans,” it said. In a social media post directed at California Governor Newsom, DHS said, “Hey Gavin, YOU gave him his CDL [commercial driver's license] and then he killed three people with his tractor-trailer.” It made the post alongside a video related to the Florida crash involving Harjinder Singh. https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyberattack-on-dhs-intelligence-network-sparks-fresh-us-national-security-concerns-1783069021029/embed Recent Punjabi and Indian truck driver accident cases Harjinder Singh made a U-turn with a tractor-trailer that blocked lanes, leading to a minivan crashing into his vehicle and killing three people on August 12, 2025, in Florida. His case gained wide attention after it emerged that Singh had entered the US illegally via Mexico in 2018. He had California and Washington CDLs. He failed an English-proficiency test and road-sign tests during post-crash investigations. In October 2025, Jashanpreet Singh hit into traffic in California, killing three people. He had entered the US illegally in 2022. He was sentenced to four years and eight months in jail. Another undocumented Indian national, Rajinder Kumar, blocked lanes while driving a truck, which led to the deaths of a newlywed couple in October 2025. Several other cases involving Indian or Indian-origin drivers have been linked to fatal crashes since mid-2025. This has led to scrutiny of CDL standards, English proficiency and immigration status in the trucking industry in the US, where Indians, particularly those from Punjab, make up a significant portion of the industry.

An AI-generated poster from US homeland security department telling ‘Mr Singh’ to ‘get off our roads’ has now been removed. But DHS did not apologise for it, brushing aside the backlash from Sikh and Indian-American groups, as well as opposition politicians

'Non-sensical drivel': ‘Mr Singh’ poster on illegal drivers removed by US agency WITHOUT APOLOGY after online backlash over alleged racism

Indian-origin truck driver Jashanpreet Singh, accused of a fatal crash involving a semitruck and an SUV on the 10 Freeway in California's Ontario on Oct 22 was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, US authorities have confirmed. The big confirmation can change the course of the case against Singh, as he was accused of killing three people by not applying the brakes during the accident because he was under the influence of drugs. After his arrest, medical staff and officers confirmed to the media that he was under the influence of drugs. He has also been accused of entering the US illegally.&nbsp;According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, no substances were found in the blood test report of Jashanpreet. Primary charges on Jashanpreet were of ‘driving under the influence’ (DUI) &nbsp;and vehicular manslaughter. The District Attorney said in the statement that three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and a new charge of reckless driving causing injury remain on Jashanpreet. District Attorney Jason Anderson was quoted by the Indian news agency PTI as saying that Jashanpreet should not have been in California at all. “This is a heinous tragedy...Frankly, it was easily avoidable if the defendant was not driving in a grossly negligent manner," Jason Anderson told PTI.&nbsp;Read More |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-making-america-s-roads-safe-again-us-places-over-7-000-us-truck-drivers-out-of-service-for-failing-english-proficiency-test-1762160436577"> 'Making America’s roads SAFE again': US places over 7,000 US truck drivers 'out of service' for failing English proficiency test</a>&nbsp;Singh is in custody without bail. Earlier, he was brought to the courtroom without his turban, igniting a controversy. Indian politician Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded that his turban be returned. An online petition alleged that the accused's bareheaded court appearance is a “violation of the Sikh faith.” It urged authorities to "restore his religious rights and ensure a fair trial."&nbsp;After his arrest, Fox News reporter Bill Melugin claimed—citing ICE sources—that Singh is an “Indian illegal alien” who was caught and released at the California border in March 2022 under the Biden administration. He said that Singh was let into the country under the Biden administration’s ‘alternatives to detention’ policy, pending an immigration hearing.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-distressing-images-row-erupts-after-punjabi-driver-involved-in-fatal-crash-in-us-brought-to-courtroom-without-turban-1761714271643">'Distressing images...': Row erupts after Punjabi driver involved in fatal crash in US brought to courtroom without turban</a>&nbsp;Previous to the accident in Ontario, another Indian truck driver identified as Harjinder Singh killed three people in Florida after he took an illegal U-turn. He too faces three counts of manslaughter and three counts of vehicular homicide.<h2>US action against truck drivers</h2>Several accidents related to foreign truck drivers has prompted the Trump administration to take immediate action and tighten the policies. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month announced that the Trump administration has paused all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers as they were "endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers." On Oct 9, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the Trump administration has put out of service over 7000 truckers out of service as they failed the English proficiency test. Approximately 1.5 lakh Punjabi truck drivers work in the US trucking industry. Multiple Indian politicians and millions online have raised concerns over the manner in which these arrested individuals are being treated in the US. While their families have acknowledged that their negligence cannot be defended, they have also urged for a fair trial, stating that their crimes were not intentional.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-trucker-harjinder-singh-s-family-calls-florida-crash-mistake-not-crime-over-1mn-sign-petition-for-his-release-what-we-know-1756008835251">'Mistake, not crime': Indian trucker Harjinder Singh stays in US jail amid 1M signatures demanding release - What is the case against him</a>

Indian truck driver Jashanpreet Singh, accused of killing three in a California crash, tested negative for drugs and alcohol, possibly altering his case. He still faces manslaughter and reckless driving charges. His turbanless court appearance sparked outrage

Indian-origin truck driver Jashanpreet Singh, accused of a fatal crash involving a semitruck and an SUV on the 10 Freeway in California's Ontario on Oct 22 was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, US authorities have confirmed. The big confirmation can change the course of the case against Singh, as he was accused of killing three people by not applying the brakes during the accident because he was under the influence of drugs. After his arrest, medical staff and officers confirmed to the media that he was under the influence of drugs. He has also been accused of entering the US illegally. According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, no substances were found in the blood test report of Jashanpreet. Primary charges on Jashanpreet were of ‘driving under the influence’ (DUI) and vehicular manslaughter. The District Attorney said in the statement that three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and a new charge of reckless driving causing injury remain on Jashanpreet. District Attorney Jason Anderson was quoted by the Indian news agency PTI as saying that Jashanpreet should not have been in California at all. “This is a heinous tragedy...Frankly, it was easily avoidable if the defendant was not driving in a grossly negligent manner," Jason Anderson told PTI. Read More | 'Making America’s roads SAFE again': US places over 7,000 US truck drivers 'out of service' for failing English proficiency test Singh is in custody without bail. Earlier, he was brought to the courtroom without his turban, igniting a controversy. Indian politician Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded that his turban be returned. An online petition alleged that the accused's bareheaded court appearance is a “violation of the Sikh faith.” It urged authorities to "restore his religious rights and ensure a fair trial." After his arrest, Fox News reporter Bill Melugin claimed—citing ICE sources—that Singh is an “Indian illegal alien” who was caught and released at the California border in March 2022 under the Biden administration. He said that Singh was let into the country under the Biden administration’s ‘alternatives to detention’ policy, pending an immigration hearing. Read More | 'Distressing images...': Row erupts after Punjabi driver involved in fatal crash in US brought to courtroom without turban Previous to the accident in Ontario, another Indian truck driver identified as Harjinder Singh killed three people in Florida after he took an illegal U-turn. He too faces three counts of manslaughter and three counts of vehicular homicide. US action against truck drivers Several accidents related to foreign truck drivers has prompted the Trump administration to take immediate action and tighten the policies. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month announced that the Trump administration has paused all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers as they were "endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers." On Oct 9, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the Trump administration has put out of service over 7000 truckers out of service as they failed the English proficiency test. Approximately 1.5 lakh Punjabi truck drivers work in the US trucking industry. Multiple Indian politicians and millions online have raised concerns over the manner in which these arrested individuals are being treated in the US. While their families have acknowledged that their negligence cannot be defended, they have also urged for a fair trial, stating that their crimes were not intentional. Read More | 'Mistake, not crime': Indian trucker Harjinder Singh stays in US jail amid 1M signatures demanding release - What is the case against him

Indian truck driver Jashanpreet Singh, accused of killing three in a California crash, tested negative for drugs and alcohol, possibly altering his case. He still faces manslaughter and reckless driving charges. His turbanless court appearance sparked outrage

Indian-origin truck driver who killed 3 in California crash was not 'high on drugs': Why is he facing homicide charges?

us-truck-driver

Us Truck Driver, News on Us Truck Driver, stories on Us Truck Driver, articles on Us Truck Driver, Us Truck Driver stories at Wion, Us Truck Driver news, Us Truck Driver latest news

us truck-driver

'Non-sensical drivel': ‘Mr Singh’ poster on illegal drivers removed by US agency WITHOUT APOLOGY after online backlash over alleged racism

Indian-origin truck driver who killed 3 in Ontario crash was not 'high on drugs'