By The American Tribune | Created at 2026-09-18 10:26:13 | Updated at 2026-09-18 12:05:35
1 hour ago
A lifelong Democrat whose son and daughter-in-law were killed in a crash involving an illegal immigrant truck driver broke with her party during an emotional appearance before Congress. Elizabeth Carter said she was “ashamed” of Democrats as lawmakers debated illegal immigration, sanctuary policies, and the consequences borne by American families. Her declaration came after Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC) apologized to her on behalf of the government and accused Democrats of remaining committed to open borders.
Carter testified Tuesday, September 15th, during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing examining sanctuary policies and restrictions on cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Her son, William Micah “Billy” Carter, and his wife, Jennifer “Jenny” Lower, were killed in Oregon less than three weeks after their wedding. Carter’s appearance put a grieving mother directly across from lawmakers arguing over deportations and immigration enforcement.
The newlyweds had been married for only 16 days when they died alongside their cat, Bert, in November 2025. Carter told lawmakers that her son and daughter-in-law had been forced into what amounted to a deadly game of chance created by government policy. She also questioned why millions of people who entered the country during the Biden administration couldn’t be removed on a similarly large scale.
The crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. on November 24, 2025, along U.S. Highway 20 east of Bend, Oregon. As KTVZ reported, a Freightliner operated by Rajinder Kumar had jackknifed and was blocking both lanes when Carter’s Subaru struck the trailer at highway speed. Oregon State Police said darkness and the absence of active emergency-warning equipment were considered primary contributors to the collision.
William Carter, 25, and Lower, 24, died at the scene. Kumar was initially arrested on criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangering charges, but he was later indicted on two counts of first-degree manslaughter and three counts of recklessly endangering another person. He pleaded not guilty on March 30th, 2026, and hasn’t yet been convicted. The Department of Homeland Security said Kumar, an Indian national, entered the United States illegally near Lukeville, Arizona, in November 2022 and was released into the country during the Biden administration before obtaining work authorization and a California commercial driver’s license.
Knott turned to the number of illegal immigrants who entered the country during that period and told Carter that the commonly cited total didn’t capture everyone who crossed the border. “We let far more than 10 million in, ma’am. That’s just the accounted number,” he said. Knott then addressed her family’s loss directly: “And I’m sorry if you’re suffering. I’m sorry on behalf of the government. We are working to try to fix it.”
Watch Carter’s response here:
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Knott continued by accusing Democrats of refusing to abandon the policies that helped create the crisis. “Unfortunately for the country, the Democrats remain as committed as they have ever been to open borders,” he said. His remarks followed Carter’s criticism of lawmakers who opposed large-scale deportations despite the millions of illegal immigrants admitted during the previous administration.
Carter delivered the line that brought the exchange to its emotional peak. “I feel like I have to say, as a lifelong Democrat, I am ashamed of what my party is doing,” she told the committee. Knott responded bluntly, “Well, they don’t care,” before asking whether enforcing immigration laws was worthwhile if doing so could spare even one American family from suffering what Carter’s family endured.
Carter answered that it was “absolutely” worthwhile. Knott then pointed toward the Democratic side of the committee and accused its members of continuing to defend the same approach. “They are still defending it,” he said. “Not one of them will say, if you’re here illegally, get out.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.
