Elizabeth Carter, an emotional Democrat from Oregon, testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement on Tuesday in Washington DC about the tragic death of her son Billy Carter, his new wife Jenny Lower, and their cat Bert in a car crash caused by Rajinder Kumar, an illegal immigrant from India. Carter expressed shame over her party's stance on immigration enforcement, highlighting how Democrats' policies allowed 10 million people to enter the U.S. illegally under Biden’s administration. Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC) pressed for stricter immigration laws, emphasizing that protecting American families should be a priority.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
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An emotional Democrat admitted that she's 'ashamed' of her party after her son, his new wife, and their cat were killed in a car crash involving an illegal migrant.
Elizabeth Carter delivered a tearful statement before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement on Tuesday in Washington DC.
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Carter → see → DC
Carter surrounded herself with pictures of her son, Billy Carter, and her daughter-in-law, Jenny Lower, as she told the heartbreaking story of how the pair, who were married for just 16 days, died last November.
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who → surround → days
Billy, Jenny, and their cat 'Bert' were returning home from a wedding reception in her late daughter-in-law's Oregon hometown when their vehicle slammed into a jackknifed big rig, or out-of-control tractor-trailer, driven by Rajinder Kumar.
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vehicle → return → Kumar
Kumar, 32, is from India and was illegally in the US, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in an April 2026 press release.
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Department → say → release
He was issued a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) in California.
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He → issue → California
During her vulnerable testimony, Carter slammed Democrats' opposition to immigration enforcement, stating: 'We allowed 10 million people in under Biden.
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We → slam → Biden
How is there a different suggestion as to how to process them, other than the same way they came into the country en masse, leaving?
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they → process → masse
'I have to say, as a lifelong Democrat, I am ashamed of what my party is doing,' the heartbroken parent added.
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parent → have → what
Carter delivered a tearful statement before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement on Tuesday in Washington DC
Billy Carter, his new wife, Jenny Lower, and their cat 'Bert' died in a car crash last November in Oregon.
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Carter → deliver → Oregon
They were on their way back from a wedding after the couple tied the knot just 16 days earlier
'Well, they don't care,' Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC) replied before pressing the issue further.
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Knott → tie → issue
'This is the question for the community to consider: is it worth enforcing our laws to protect just one American family?
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it → consider → family
One party says, "Absolutely, if we have to mass deport the problem they built, so be it".
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it → say → problem
'If it protects one family from having to suffer like you've suffered, I think that is a worthwhile endeavor,' Knott continued.
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Knott → protect → family
'Absolutely,' Carter responded.
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Carter → respond → ?
Carter also told lawmakers that her loved ones 'lost the Russian roulette game our government is forcing them to play.'
Knott then pointed directly to where Democrat committee members sit, and said: 'They are still defending it.
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They → tell → it
Not one of them will say, if you're here illegally, get out.'
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you → say → them
Kumar was taken into custody on April 11 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers after 'Oregon sanctuary politicians refused to cooperate' with the agency and released him back onto the streets on April 2, DHS said.
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DHS → take → April
The couple's vehicle slammed into a jackknifed big rig, or out-of-control tractor-trailer, driven by Rajinder Kumar, of India.
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vehicle → slam → India
He entered the US illegally in 2022
'
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He → enter → 2022
This illegal alien was issued a CDL by Gavin Newsom’s California.
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alien → issue → California
He then went on to recklessly drive a truck on America’s highways and KILL two honeymooners.
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He → go → honeymooners
Instead of cooperating with ICE law enforcement, Oregon sanctuary politicians RELEASED him from jail back into American communities,' Lauren Bis, a spokeswoman for ICE, said.
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Bis → cooperate → ICE
Kumar entered America illegally near Lukeville, Arizona, on November 28, 2022, while former President Joe Biden was in office.
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Biden → enter → office
'Gavin Newsom’s California gave him a commercial driver’s license, and the Biden administration gave him a work authorization,' the agency said.
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agency → give → authorization
Prosecutors charged him with first-degree manslaughter over the fatal crash.
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Prosecutors → charge → crash
Kumar is currently being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, where he faces removal proceedings.
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he → hold → proceedings
At the time of the fatal crash, Dennis Carter, Elizabeth's husband, told The Oregonian about his son and daughter-in-law's marriage.
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Carter → tell → marriage
They never had to spend one minute apart,' Dennis recalled.
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Dennis → have → minute
Bill was born in Phoenix, Arizona, before moving with his family to Springfield, Oregon, his loved ones told the outlet.
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ones → bear → outlet
One of his brothers suggested that he join him in a scavenger hunt organized by young adults at their church, and that is where he met Jennifer.
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he → suggest → Jennifer
Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC) stood by Carter as she delivered her emotional appeal
The couple started dating in May 2025, and by August, Bill got on one knee and asked Jennifer to be his wife.
Bill and Jennifer married on November 8 at a temple in Portland.
'Billy and Jenny were just lit up.
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Billy → stand → Portland
They were smiling ear to ear,' Tom Lower, Jennifer's father, recalled.
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Lower → smile → ear
A funeral was held for the couple on December 8.
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funeral → hold → December