NEW YORK (AP) – A man fleeing federal agents in Florida has died after being struck by a tractor-trailer, marking at least the tenth death linked to encounters with immigration agents since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiative.
Authorities have reported that the deceased, a 28-year-old Mexican national whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was in a vehicle with three others outside a gas station near St. Augustine when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers approached. In an attempt to evade the agents, the man drove across a busy highway and into the path of a semi-truck, according to a spokesperson from the Florida Highway Patrol.
This tragic incident follows closely on the heels of an ICE agent shooting a driver in Maine a day earlier and a similar shooting in Houston the previous week, prompting renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics.
President Trump reiterated his support for ICE on Wednesday, insisting that officers should continue to conduct traffic stops, countering reports that such operations would be curtailed.
Growing concerns over Maine shooting incident
The news of the Florida fatality emerged amidst questions surrounding the shooting death of Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, just days prior. Duran Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian, was shot and killed while sitting in his vehicle, with officials claiming he attempted to flee from an address being monitored by immigration authorities. The Department of Homeland Security stated they fired their weapons out of concern for public safety.
However, this statement contrasts with comments from Maine Senator Angus King, who relayed that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin informed him the driver had “used his vehicle as a weapon” against the ICE agents.
Relation of Maine shooting to prior incidents
Further complicating the issue, DHS officials reported that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, another Mexican national, ignored commands to stop during a crackdown on July 7. Araujo allegedly attempted to ram his vehicle into an ICE officer, who then fired in self-defense. His family claims he was en route to work when the incident occurred, ultimately leading to his death during transport to a hospital.
The shooting has provoked outcry from immigrant rights organizations and several Democratic lawmakers, who are calling for an independent investigation. Notably, footage from previous incidents has shown contradictions to federal accounts, yet no immigration officials have been prosecuted for these fatalities.
Additional fatalities linked to ICE operations
On January 24, a Border Patrol agent fatally shot 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti during protests in Minneapolis against a broader immigration enforcement operation. Initially, federal authorities portrayed Pretti, a U.S. citizen, as an armed provocateur, but video evidence later surfaced showing him holding a cellphone while engaging with officers when he was shot.
Moreover, on January 7, Renee Good was shot multiple times by ICE agents while driving her vehicle. Officials have defended the actions of the officers involved, asserting that her vehicle posed a threat. Good’s death incited a nationwide controversy, and despite a lack of transparency, some evidence has now been shared by federal prosecutors.
Fatal incidents during enforcement operations
Josué Castro Rivera, a 24-year-old from Honduras, was struck and killed by a pickup truck on October 23 while attempting to flee from ICE agents in Norfolk, Virginia. According to his brother, Castro Rivera was headed to work with three others at the time of the traffic stop. State and federal officials report he fled on foot before the collision occurred.
Silverio Villegas González, a 38-year-old chef from Mexico, was shot by ICE agents during a traffic stop in a Chicago suburb on September 12. Relatives of Villegas González stated he had just dropped off his child at nursery school that morning. Authorities alleged that he was a target due to reckless driving and attempted to evade arrest. However, surveillance footage later suggested a different narrative regarding the circumstances leading to the shooting.
Highway deaths tied to immigration enforcement
On August 14, a man attempting to evade immigration authorities in Southern California was struck and killed by an SUV while crossing a highway. The individual, identified as 52-year-old Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez from Guatemala, was reportedly not being pursued by ICE officers when the tragic incident occurred.
Fatal accidents during ICE raids
Another alarming case occurred on July 10, 2025, when Jaime Alaniz fell from a greenhouse roof during an ICE raid in Southern California. This incident claimed the life of the 57-year-old worker, who had been employed at the farm for a decade. The Department of Homeland Security has claimed that Alaniz was not previously detained or pursued by immigration agencies.
Compiling these tragic events, it becomes increasingly evident that encounters with immigration enforcement can yield lethal consequences, raising significant concerns about safety and accountability in the ongoing immigration crackdown across the United States.
