ICE returns illegal alien trucker charged in newlyweds’ crash deaths to Oregon for state trial

An illegal alien truck driver charged in a crash that killed two American newlyweds has been transferred from federal immigration detention to Oregon authorities for prosecution, following efforts by prosecutors to ensure he faced trial before being deported.

Rajinder Kumar, a 32-year-old Indian national who entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration, faces two counts of first-degree manslaughter and three counts of recklessly endangering another person. ICE announced Thursday that its Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle officers had returned him to Oregon state custody.

The transfer follows months of uncertainty over whether Kumar would be deported before answering the criminal charges. An immigration judge ordered his removal on July 1, according to an ICE statement previously provided to Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Deschutes County prosecutors subsequently sought an arrest warrant to secure his return for trial.

William Micah Carter and Jennifer Lynn Lower had been married just 16 days when they were killed. According to DHS, Kumar’s semi-truck and trailer jackknifed across both lanes of US Highway 20 in Deschutes County on November 24, 2025. The couple’s Subaru Outback struck the truck, killing both occupants.

“Two Americans lost their lives, and their families deserve accountability. ICE worked closely with law-enforcement partners to ensure Kumar is returned to state custody to answer for the serious charges against him,” said ICE ERO Seattle acting Field Office Director Julio S. Hernandez.

“This coordinated action protects the public, supports the victims’ families, and ensures that an individual accused of these crimes does not evade justice. ICE will continue using every lawful tool available to protect the American people from criminal activity committed by illegal aliens.”

According to ICE, Border Patrol apprehended Kumar near Lukeville, Arizona, on November 28, 2022, after he illegally crossed into the United States from Mexico. He was placed in removal proceedings. DHS previously said he received work authorization under the Biden administration and a commercial driver’s license from California.

Following Kumar’s indictment, ICE lodged an immigration detainer with the Deschutes County Jail. The agency said county authorities released him in April 2026 without honoring the request. ICE officers subsequently located and arrested him on April 22.

His continued federal detention, coupled with the deportation order, prompted prosecutors to seek his return. Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels told Lookout on October 7 that prosecutors sought an arrest warrant to make Kumar available for trial, but that his return depended on federal authorities. Kumar had previously pleaded not guilty to all five charges, the outlet reported.

KTVZ reported October 2 that Judge Wells Ashby had issued a bench warrant and that Kumar’s trial was scheduled for January 19, 2027. At the time, Kumar was last known to be held in ICE custody in Tacoma, Washington, awaiting deportation to India.

ICE said Thursday that it will pursue Kumar’s immigration case following the conclusion of the state criminal proceedings, consistent with federal law.