A week ago, two young people were killed by an errant truck driver, east of where I live. The driver has been charged with homicide.

The local news published the names of the 24- and 25-year-old victims and said the trucker was charged with homicide. But no local media outlet published the name of the driver even though it was in the Oregon State Patrol press release.

(More than a week later, they updated the story. Also from comments to one outlet’s story, the deceased young couple had been married just 2 weeks prior to being killed in the crash. The update says DHS cited “local reports” implying the news outlets – however, the information was in the OSP Nov 26th press release.)

Per ICE, the driver is an illegal alien, illegally issued a commercial driver’s license by the State of California: ICE requests arrest detainer on suspect in deadly Deschutes Co. semi crash (ICE Lodges Detainer for Criminal Illegal Alien Semi-Truck Driver Charged with Negligent Homicide After Jackknifing Trailer, Killing Two in Oregon | Homeland Security)

I have not paid attention to these stories, but this happened on a road I drive – in fact, drove on today (the day I wrote this post).

Oregon is a “sanctuary state”, where those who enter the US illegally are entitled to all benefits of citizenship – except voting. Oregon believes in “open borders”. Most of those in the U.S. without permission do so by entering on a valid visa, then overstay their visa. According to Oregon’s public leadership and media, any illegal alien inside Oregon should be free to stay.

Per stories in the Oregonian, if you have been issued a deportation order, even if you have committed serious crimes, there is no justification for deportation. Oregon is an “open borders” state and per it’s state rules and regulations, works against the Federal government. Everyone is welcome in Oregon and entitled to all citizen benefits (except voting) and taxpayer paid legal services to contest immigration detainment or deportation.

Oregon has rules that prohibit agencies from cooperating with immigration enforcement – according to the Oregon Department of Justice: “Your information should not be shared by state or local law enforcement to assist in detaining you or any individual for immigration purposes.“

The suspect could be released from Deschutes County Jail – Oregon may take steps to hinder or hide access to the suspect so that ICE cannot take him into custody.

OSP Press release:

Fatal Crash – Highway 20 – Deschutes County – 11/26/25

Deschutes, Ore. (Nov. 26, 2025)- On Monday, November 24, 2025, at 9:30 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 20, near milepost 51, in Deschutes County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a Freightliner commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Rajinder Kumar (32) of Fresno (CA), was stopped in a jacknifed position, blocking both lanes of travel, with the tractor facing eastbound in the eastbound lane. A westbound Subaru Outback, operated by William Micah Carter (25) of Springfield, struck the trailer of the Freightliner as it was stopped perpendicular to the lanes of travel, at highway speeds.

The operator of the Subaru (Carter) and passenger, Jennifer Lynn Lower (24) of John Day, were declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Freightliner (Kumar) was reportedly uninjured.

The highway was impacted for approximately seven hours during the on-scene investigation. Dark conditions and a lack of active emergency warning equipment is being considered a primary contributor of the crash.

As a result of the on-scene investigation, Kumar was arrested for Criminally Negligent Homicide and Reckless Endangering and lodged in the Deschutes County Jail. No further information is available for release at this time due to the active investigation.

OSP was assisted by Bend Fire and Rescue and ODOT.

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The illegal alien driver accused in this crash had been issued a Commercial Driving License by the State of California.

Minnesota is under allegations that one-third of Minnesota’s CDLs have been improperly issued, including to non-citizens without work authorization: EXCLUSIVE: Sean Duffy Warns Tim Walz To Revoke Illegal Licenses Or Lose Highway Funding