Elizabeth Carter’s Testimony on Immigration Policy’s Impact
Elizabeth Carter, known as an “Angel Mom,” expressed her belief that her son, 25-year-old Billy Carter, and his wife, 24-year-old Jenny Lynn Lower, would still be alive if not for immigration policies linked to former President Joe Biden and former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This statement came during a House Judiciary Committee hearing focused on immigration issues.
In her testimony, Carter recounted the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths of her son and daughter-in-law, which she attributes to an illegal immigrant truck driver from India.
She stated, “I have to say, as a lifelong Democrat, I am ashamed of what my party is doing,” a sentiment reported by various news outlets.
Billy and Jenny, who had only been married for a short time—just 16 days—were involved in a fatal collision on November 24, 2025. This occurred when Rajinder Kumar lost control of his semi truck, obstructing both lanes of Highway 20 in Oregon.
The young couple had been returning home from their second wedding reception when they crashed into Kumar’s truck, leading to their untimely deaths. Carter emphasized to the committee that the accident was preventable.
Rajinder Kumar had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border near Lukeville, Arizona, and was released into the country, part of what Carter described as the flawed catch-and-release policy enforced by the Biden administration.
“This would not have happened if, instead of catching and releasing, Mr. Kumar was asked to go through the proper legal process,” Carter remarked. She further noted the difficulties of obtaining clear answers from the government when there were discrepancies between federal and state laws.
Carter highlighted that the state of California subsequently issued a commercial driver’s license to Kumar, even though the federal government had concerns about his legal status. “He was allowed into the country, he was given the right to work, and he was issued a commercial driver’s license by California,” she said.
Despite federal opposition, California’s actions allowed an individual without proper legal standing to drive on public roads, impacting others, including her son and daughter-in-law who were on their way to start a new life together.
By April 2026, Oregon had declined to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which had placed a hold on Kumar. After being released back into the community, he was arrested by ICE agents just twenty days later.
“People born in our country deserve a fair trial if their life is lost,” Carter stated, reflecting on the emotional toll this situation took on her and the sense of betrayal she felt from her government.
