A truck driver from India who goes by the surname Singh is speaking out after what he says was an unjust encounter with US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, who apparently singled him out for additional screening solely on the basis of his name.
Singh, who has spent years driving commercial trucks across state lines in the United States, said the incident began when he pulled into a roadside inspection station and was immediately flagged by officers who requested further documentation despite having no prior violations or red flags in his driving record.
"My name is Singh and I am not a bad truck driver," Singh told reporters after the encounter. "I have followed every rule, paid my taxes, and driven safely for over a decade. Yet I was treated like a criminal because of five letters on my license."
According to Singh, the DHS officers questioned him extensively about his visa status, asked about his religious practices, and made remarks that he found discriminatory. He was held for several hours before eventually being cleared and allowed to continue his route.
The episode has reignited conversations about name-based profiling within federal immigration and transportation enforcement agencies. Civil rights advocates say individuals with South Asian or Muslim-sounding names frequently face disproportionate scrutiny at ports of entry, inspection stations, and during routine traffic stops.
Advocacy groups have called for DHS to review its screening protocols and implement stricter guidelines to prevent bias from influencing border and highway inspections. They argue that name-based targeting not only violates constitutional protections but also undermines trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement — making public safety harder to achieve.
Singh says he plans to file a formal complaint and is considering legal action. "I just want to drive my truck and feed my family," he said. "I didn't come here to cause trouble. I came here to work."
