An Indian man, Rajinder Kumar, is facing charges for allegedly causing a deadly highway crash in Oregon. Reports indicate he entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration. Arrested in late November, he had acquired a commercial driver’s license (CDL) after crossing the border in 2022, as revealed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This incident marks the latest in a series of fatal accidents linked to illegal immigrant truck drivers—those released into the country by the Biden administration and licensed by California authorities. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the situation, questioning how many more accidents would occur before policies are reformed. She expressed condolences to the families of the victims, William Micah Carter and Jennifer Lynn Lower, who died in the crash.
On November 26, Kumar allegedly lost control of his semitrailer on Highway 20 in Deschutes County, blocking traffic and causing a collision that killed both victims. He has since been charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment but reportedly was not injured in the crash.
Kumar’s journey to the U.S. began with an illegal crossing near Lukeville, Arizona, in late 2022. Subsequently, he received work authorization in 2023 and was granted a CDL by California’s Department of Land Transportation. Currently, he is being held at Deschutes County Jail after the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed for his detention.
The ongoing issue of illegal immigrants obtaining driver’s licenses has sparked discussions among state officials about addressing the cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. McLaughlin reaffirmed ICE’s commitment to removing illegal immigrant truck drivers from U.S. highways.
Similar deadly incidents involving illegal immigrant drivers have raised alarms. Notably, Harjinder Singh, another Indian man, reportedly made an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike, resulting in the deaths of three people. Another case involved Jashanpreet Singh, who allegedly crashed into several vehicles on a California highway, also killing three.
Both men had acquired CDLs in California prior to their respective accidents. In response to rising fatalities, the Trump administration had implemented emergency rules to require non-residents to provide proof of immigration status for obtaining a CDL. However, these rules faced legal challenges from pro-Democratic labor groups.
Furthermore, the Department of Transportation recently accused California of unlawfully issuing approximately 17,000 non-registered CDLs to immigrant drivers, prompting sanctions regarding federal funding. Also, about 3,000 CDL training providers were removed from the training provider registry for failing to meet standards set by the federal government.
