DHS: Oregon fatal crash suspect had California CDL
The Department of Homeland Security said Monday that Rajinder Kumar, a 32-year-old Indian national accused of criminally negligent homicide after a Nov. 24 semi-truck crash that killed two people on U.S. Highway 20 in Deschutes County, Oregon, entered the U.S. illegally in Nov. 2022, was released, received work authorization in 2023, and later obtained a California commercial driver’s license. ICE has lodged a detainer as Kumar remains in the Deschutes County jail; DHS highlighted Oregon’s sanctuary status and said it will seek custody if he is released.
📌 Key Facts
- Crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. Nov. 24, 2025 on U.S. 20 in Deschutes County; victims identified as William Micah Carter and Jennifer Lynn Lower.
- DHS says Kumar entered illegally near Lukeville, Arizona in Nov. 2022, was released, received 2023 work authorization, and was issued a California CDL.
- ICE has filed an immigration detainer; Kumar faces charges including criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment and is held in Deschutes County jail.
📊 Relevant Data
Approximately 18% of U.S. truck drivers are foreign-born.
Addressing the U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: The Role of Foreign-Born Drivers, Visa Policy, and Supply Chain Impacts — Forum Together
In the past decade, the percentage of White truck drivers dropped from 77% to 63%.
Study reveals shifting truck driver demographics — Land Line Media
California revoked 17,000 commercial driver's licenses issued to immigrants in 2025.
California revokes 17000 commercial driver's licenses for immigrants — NPR
Granting undocumented immigrants driver's licenses increases overall fatal crashes by nearly 5%, equivalent to 0.46 more fatal crashes per 100,000 population.
The impact of granting undocumented immigrants driver's licenses on traffic fatalities — Wiley Online Library
Commercial drivers with English language violations are involved in crashes at significantly higher rates, which may contribute to safety disparities if correlated with immigration status.
Study: English-deficient truckers pose greater safety risk than drugs, speeding — Straight Arrow News
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"A Fox News opinion piece criticizes California's issuance of CDLs to undocumented immigrants — tying it to the Nov. 24 deadly crash (Rajinder Kumar) — and urges federal enforcement and revocation as a matter of public safety and fairness to law‑abiding Americans."