DHS confirms that Washington state ignored ICE detainer for driver in fatal crash

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that Washington state ignored a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer for a truck driver involved in a fatal crash earlier this month. 

Kamalpreet Singh failed to brake in the moments before a fatal crash in Washington on December 11th, causing him to strike one car and kill 29-year-old Robert Pearson. Investigation shows he had also falsified logbooks leading up to the crash. 

After the crash, Singh was taken into custody and held on a $100,000 bond. A short time later, an ICE detainer was issued to ensure he remained in jail. Singh was released on Sunday, December 14th despite the detainer. 

Initially, it was unclear if Singh was released while under an ICE detainer, but ICE and DHS have since confirmed that the detainer was ignored. Washington is a sanctuary state.

“These demented and dangerous sanctuary policies have deadly consequences,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Robert Pearson would still be alive today if the Biden administration hadn’t released this illegal alien into our country. How many more Americans have to be killed before Democrat politicians start to put the public’s safety ahead of politics?”

Singh was found entering the country illegally in 2023 through Lukeville, Arizona and was released by the Biden administration.