Federal agents have taken the suspect from a deadly crash involving an undocumented truck driver back into custody in Oregon. This comes just weeks after local authorities released him, reigniting frustration over immigration policies linked to Governor Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that Rajinder Kumar, 32, was arrested again on Wednesday, April 22.
He is now at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, currently undergoing processing for potential release.
Kumar was originally charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment, with his bail later raised to $500,000.
He had been free since April 2, 2026, after the Oregon government declined to cooperate with ICE concerning his involvement in a fatal crash months prior.
This incident happened on November 24, 2025, when Kumar’s semi-truck jackknifed across both lanes of Route 20 in Deschutes County, Oregon. The collision resulted in the deaths of 25-year-old William Micah Carter and 24-year-old Jennifer Lynn Lower, who had only been married for 16 days.
Federal officials noted that Kumar entered the U.S. illegally on November 28, 2022, near Lukeville, Arizona, and was subsequently released under the Biden administration. He later obtained a work permit and a commercial driver’s license while under Newsom’s governance.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Biss commented that Kumar’s illegal alien status, combined with his reckless driving, led to the tragedy. “Instead of cooperating with ICE, Oregon’s sanctuary policies allowed him to return to the community, endangering lives further.” She emphasized the importance of ICE’s role in removing such dangerous individuals from the streets for public safety.
The case highlights the tension between federal and state immigration policies, showcasing how Kumar was allowed to stay and return to public roads after the crash.
For those affected by crimes involving illegal immigrants, assistance is available through the Office of Immigrant Crime Victim Services (VOICE) at 1-855-488-6423.
