ICE arrests man accused of causing fatal Oregon crash after jail release

Immigration officials arrested Rajinder Kumar, 32, after he was released from jail in Oregon, where he was accused of causing a crash that killed a newlywed couple, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Kumar allegedly jackknifed his semi-truck on U.S. Highway 20 in Deschutes County on Nov. 24, blocking both lanes. A Subaru Outback collided with the truck, killing William Micah Carter and Jennifer Lynn Lower, who had been married for 16 days, DHS said.

Oregon officials declined to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and released Kumar on April 2, DHS said. ICE agents arrested him on April 22. He is now held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma pending deportation proceedings.

Kumar, an illegal immigrant from India, entered the U.S. illegally near Lukeville, Arizona, in November 2022, DHS said. He was granted work authorization in 2023 and obtained a commercial driver’s license in California.

He faces charges of criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. DHS officials criticized Oregon’s sanctuary policies, with acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stating that Kumar was issued a commercial driver’s license by California’s governor and then drove recklessly, resulting in the deaths of the newlyweds. Bis accused sanctuary policies of endangering public safety and said ICE officers are working to remove Kumar from the country to prevent further harm.

Fox News Digital reached out to California’s governor and DHS for comment on Oregon officials’ cooperation. The investigation continues as authorities seek to ensure public safety and accountability.

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