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US immigration authorities have taken into custody Rajinder Kumar, an Indian truck driver accused of causing a fatal highway crash in Oregon that killed a newlywed couple, after local officials released him despite a federal detainer request, according to reports in the US-based local news outlets, The Daily Wire and Lookout Eugene-Springfield.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to The Daily Wire report, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Kumar on April 22, weeks after he was released from a county jail — an episode that has reignited debate over "sanctuary" policies and federal enforcement.
Announcing the arrest, ICE posted on X that the agency has "arrested an illegal alien semi-truck driver RELEASED by Oregon sanctuary politicians after he KILLED two honeymooners. He was issued a commercial driving licence in Gavin Newsom's California."
The post also stated, "Kumar entered the US ILLEGALLY in 2022 and was RELEASED into our nation by the Biden Administration."
The case stems from a November 2025 crash in Deschutes County, where Kumar's semi-truck allegedly jackknifed and blocked both lanes of a highway. A vehicle carrying William Micah Carter, 25, and Jennifer Lynn Lower, 24, crashed into the trailer at highway speed, killing both. The couple had been married just 16 days, reported The Daily Wire.
Following the crash, Kumar was arrested and charged with two counts of manslaughter and multiple counts of reckless endangerment. He pleaded not guilty in March 2026, according to the report by the Lookout Eugene-Springfield. ICE had also lodged a detainer request, asking local authorities to notify the agency before his release.
Despite that, Kumar was released from Deschutes County Jail on April 2 after posting $25,000, 10% of his $250,000 bond. Federal authorities later tracked him down and detained him.
A statement by the DHS criticised the release, saying, "Every time sanctuary politicians release a dangerous criminal illegal alien back into our communities, they are gambling with American lives." The agency added that ICE officers "tracked this killer down to ensure he's permanently removed from America’s highways."
However, Kumar's defence has pushed back on the narrative. His public defender told Lookout Eugene-Springfield, "All people have a right to bail," emphasising that no special motion was filed to secure his release. He also said that Kumar should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case also highlights a clash between immigration authorities and the local prosecutors as deportation proceedings might begin before Kumar's trial. His attorney warned that Oregon law does not allow a trial on serious charges without the defendant present.
"We would hope and intend to go forward with the criminal case," Deschutes County District Attorney Stephen Gunnels told Lookout Eugene-Springfield. "That said, federal actions are beyond our control, and we have no input into that process," Gunnels added.
Kumar is currently being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Centre in Tacoma, Washington, where he faces deportation proceedings even as his criminal case, scheduled for January 2027, remains pending.
- Ends
Published By:
Shounak Sanyal
Published On:
Apr 29, 2026 16:34 IST
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