WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Kaur Dhillon has urged Americans not to direct anger over two recent deadly truck crashes toward Sikh and Indian-origin truck drivers, calling for unity, restraint, and respect for the law.

Dhillon issued the statement this week after two high-profile crashes involving undocumented immigrant drivers sparked a wave of online backlash and reports of bias incidents targeting South Asian trucking communities.

“Unfortunately, in the fog of outrage, some are using these tragedies as an opportunity to attack law-abiding Sikhs and Indian-origin drivers, simply because of who they are,” Dhillon said.

She emphasized that the vast majority of these drivers are law-abiding, hardworking Americans who contribute to the nation’s economy and uphold its values.

“They are our neighbors, our friends, and provide a legal and vital service,” she said. “They believe in the American dream and the rule of law upon which that dream was built.”

Dhillon, an Indian-origin attorney and longtime Republican official, was appointed earlier this year to lead the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Her comments come amid growing concern that public outrage over immigration and trucking safety could lead to a rise in racial and religious discrimination.

The controversy began in September when Harjinder Singh, a truck driver who entered the United States illegally in 2018, was involved in a crash in Florida that killed three people. Homeland Security later confirmed Singh’s undocumented status.

Earlier this month, another accident in Ontario, California, fueled the debate. Jashanpreet Singh, 21, allegedly drove his semi-truck into an SUV, triggering a chain-reaction collision that killed three and injured four. Authorities later confirmed that he had crossed the border illegally in 2022 and was living in Yuba City.

The two crashes reignited discussions over California’s policies that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain commercial driver’s licenses — a move critics say compromises safety.

Dhillon criticized those state policies, calling them an “absurd coddling of illegal aliens” that put the public at risk. She said she had spoken with Transportation Secretary Duffy, who is working on measures to address the issue.

“Those responsible for these tragedies must pay for their misdeeds,” Dhillon said. “So, too, should the State of California, for enacting reckless policies.”

Her comments mark a rare instance of a senior Justice Department official publicly rebuking a state’s immigration and licensing policies, underscoring the growing tension between federal and state authorities on immigration enforcement.

While condemning the state policies, Dhillon stressed that law-abiding immigrants and citizens of all backgrounds must be protected under federal law.

“It is illegal under federal law to discriminate against individuals or attack or violently threaten them because of their race, color, religion, or national origin,” she said. “The Civil Rights Division will aggressively prosecute or pursue justice against those engaged in such discrimination.”

Her statement came as advocacy groups for Sikh and Indian-American truckers reported harassment, verbal abuse, and online threats following the crashes. Many truckers in the United States’ logistics network belong to these communities, especially in states like California, Texas, and Illinois.

Dhillon said that bias and violence against Sikhs or Indian-origin drivers would not be tolerated. “These Americans are not responsible for the actions of the two reckless men behind those trucks, and they must not shoulder the blame,” she said.

Dhillon’s remarks highlight the delicate balance between public safety, immigration control, and civil rights enforcement.

As debates over border security continue, she called for both accountability and compassion, urging the public to separate anger over individual crimes from prejudice against entire communities.

“Those responsible for wrongdoing must face justice,” Dhillon said. “But innocent and law-abiding citizens and workers of all backgrounds are entitled to the protection of federal law—and we will protect them.”