After a killer crash, truck drivers in the reaction of fear of the United States

The trucks remain rolling on the 99th highway in California, which is the loud road with a charging movement across the central valley. Behind the wheel is often a turban man, as their taxis are decorated with religious symbols, skewer pictures, or Punjabi singers ’stickers.

Sikhs, a group of religious minorities from India, has become a large part of the American truck transport industry, which helped to connect everything from strawberries in California to wood throughout the country.

But a crash in Florida and beyond sent the tremors through the Sikh truck transport community that could have economic consequences.

There are approximately 750,000 Sikhs in America, and about 150,000 are working in the truck transport industry, most of them drivers. The role they play in this basic industry is clear from the names on the truck doors – truck transport, truck transport in Punjab – to the curry that is offered in comfort stations along the western coast, where approximately 40 % of all truck drivers are Sikhs, according to the truck transport association in North America.

Many have limited skills in the English language but years of experience in driving.

This has put some engines in an unstable position, as the Trump administration has moved to tightening language requirements for commercial drivers. In response, many Sikh temples offer language classes to help drivers pass their language tests.

“Many drivers remained at home for fear of new laws. We started separating in mid -July, to help them return to work,” said Tippol Singh Beniwal, who volunteers with the Sikh Temple in Stockon, California.

In an English chapter in the temple on Sunday, many drivers practiced introductions and a review of highways and organizational signs. Many drivers were shy about speaking but they were excited.

Narinder Singh, a 51 -year -old driver who works in America for eight years, says he takes lessons in the temple in Stockon because he believes it is important to try to be a good citizen and comply with the law.

“Sometimes the actions of the individual may cost the entire society,” he said, referring to a deadly accident on the other side of the country, which has shouted to highlight the Sikh drivers in California.

On August 12, Harjinder Singh, a truck driver of the Indian Mawlid, turned in Florida, where he collided with Mini Van and killed three people.

The Ministry of Internal Security (DHS) claimed that Harring illegally entered the United States from Mexico in 2018 and obtained a CDL driver’s license in California, although there was no legal right in the United States and the failure of the English efficiency exam.

However, California officials say that the federal authorities told them that he had a legal work permit when the state issued a driver’s license.

Harjinder is now facing unintentional killing and murder in vehicles in Florida and is forbidden on bail. He is scheduled to be tried at the end of September.

The accident had a rippral effect on the Sikh truck drivers.

Two weeks after Florida’s state, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stopped issuing work visas for foreigners who are looking to become truck drivers in the United States.

There was also a rise in harassment against Sikh drivers, and those familiar with the BBC industry told.

Many drivers are now afraid to become targets.

“Sikh drivers are harassing at truck stations. In some cases, the application of local law was not unwanted,” he says.

While it supports Trump’s calls for further regulation of commercial licenses and the requirements of efficiency in the English language, Raman is concerned that increasingly harassment and strict immigration laws will make it difficult for Sikhs to work in this industry.

“The truck transport industry will soon face a dangerous shortage of the driver,” he said.

It is a source of concern that many share.

Gurpratap Singh Sandhu, who runs a truck -based truck transport company, reveals that his cousin, a US citizen truck driver, was harassed last week in Florida just because of his race.

“People are raised in Sikh truck drivers or throwing water bottles at truck stopping. They are ridiculed and harassed. They are called by racist insults, such as” Diaper-Head “and” Head “, in reference to their turbans. It is concerned about the security of his driver.

The harassment affects Gurpratap directly.

“Sikh drivers in my company are afraid of going to Florida, Alabama and Arkansas due to immigration and customs raids after the state of Florida,” Gorbatab said, adding that migrant drivers have been welcomed by warriors during the epidemic, when the rear shows made the value of the industry clear.

Arjun Sethi, a law professor at George Washington University, said that social media accounts in the United States and India, as well as some politicians, used this tragedy to target the entire Sikh community.

“This episode must be dealt with as a unique and tragic event and not weapons to target the entire Sikh community,” Ergon said.

It also worries that the speech may lead to violence.

“We have seen for years how the inflammatory discourse could lead to violence against those societies themselves. This Sikhs have already faced the mass shooting of the Wisconsin Six 2012 temple, where six Sikhs were killed,” Ergon added.

The annual crime statistics of the Federal Office for the year 2024 Sikhs show the third more targeted religious group behind Jewish and Muslim societies. After the accident, the American special envoy Richard Greenil met with a group of Sikh representatives in Sacramento and moved to social media to break the verbal attacks against Sikhs as “non -American” behavior.

Raman Singh Delon, CEO of the Truck Transport Association in North America, says there should be an appropriate investigation in how countries have issued a commercial driver licenses for individuals who do not meet the criteria for mastering the English language.

But so far, the English language has been greatly taught to the Sikh community members themselves, such as the classrooms offered in temples throughout California.

“No one is interested in addressing the basic problem,” says Raman.

“That is why I think the leadership of schools and government agencies should be organized.”

Harring Singh, an older colleague at the Sikh Sikh Research in the United States, agrees to his headquarters. He says that mastering the English language is necessary to adapt, and it is recommended that federal governments and state governments, as well as truck drivers associations, provide programs supported to help migrants learn English as a second language.

Arshver Singh Sandhu teach English for drivers at Guru Nanak Parkash for seven weeks as a volunteer. It covers its course – “English 4truckors” – basic English, communicating with officers during inspection operations, demand in restaurants such as Starbucks or Subway, called 911, and explained cases of mechanics.

Chapters show positive results. Harbrete Singh, a 38 -year -old Sikh truck driver, has come since the program began.

“I have gained confidence in my thoughts in English. I now understand confusing the signs of highways,” he told the BBC.