The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer for Rajinder Kumar, who faces charges of criminally negligent homicide following a fatal semi-truck crash in Oregon.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Kumar, a 37-year-old illegal immigrant from India, jackknifed his semi-truck and trailer on U.S. Highway 20 in Deschutes County, Oregon, on November 24, 2025. The collision resulted in the deaths of two Americans, William Micah Carter and Jennifer Lynn Lower, when their vehicle collided with the blocked trailer. Kumar had entered the United States illegally near Lukeville, Arizona, in 2022 and was subsequently released under federal parole authority. He was issued both a California commercial driver’s license and work authorization. ICE officials say this incident highlights the dangers posed by sanctuary state policies that allow illegal immigrants to operate commercial vehicles on U.S. highways.
Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation indicate that large-truck crashes caused 5,937 fatalities nationwide in 2023, representing a 2% increase over the previous year. Federal investigators attribute many fatal collisions to driver inattention, improper lane maneuvers, and unqualified operators. Trucking safety advocates have called for stricter background checks for commercial driver’s license holders, especially in states where undocumented immigrants can obtain CDL credentials.
In fiscal year 2024, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations issued more than 12,000 immigration detainers for aliens charged with homicide, vehicular manslaughter, or DUI-related deaths. Officials report that sanctuary policies in several states, including Oregon and California, hinder timely custody transfers and increase public safety risks. ICE maintains ongoing coordination with local law enforcement to assume custody once criminal proceedings conclude.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Washington D.C., coordinating national efforts to protect the United States from terrorism, border insecurity, and illegal immigration. Its agency ICE enforces immigration laws, investigates cross-border crime, and executes detainers for removable criminal aliens. DHS oversees 22 component agencies and employs over 240,000 personnel.