Norfolk, VA — A man fleeing from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents was struck and killed by a passing vehicle on Interstate 264 in Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday morning. Authorities say the man, identified as Jose Castro-Rivera, died at the scene after running onto the highway during an immigration stop.
According to officials, the incident marks the second death since August involving a person killed by oncoming traffic while attempting to flee ICE agents.
Targeted Immigration Operation Leads to Fatal Pursuit
A senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official told NBC News that ICE officers had conducted a “targeted, intelligence-based immigration enforcement operation” before the fatal crash. During the stop, agents determined that the vehicle’s occupants were allegedly in the country illegally.
When ICE officers began detaining the passengers, Castro-Rivera resisted and ran from the vehicle, the official said.
“Unfortunately, a passing vehicle struck Castro-Rivera,” the DHS official said. “An ICE officer administered CPR, but he died.”
According to NBC News, the car stop occurred shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday near the Military Highway interchange on Interstate 264 eastbound.
Virginia State Police Investigation
The Virginia State Police confirmed that troopers responded to the scene after receiving reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. When they arrived, they found an adult man lying on the highway who had already been pronounced dead.
“A preliminary investigation indicated that the man was fleeing a pursuit by ICE when he left his car and attempted to cross the interstate,” state police said in a statement.
Officials emphasized that state police were not involved in the ICE pursuit, and their role was limited to investigating the crash itself. The crash remains under active investigation, authorities said.
DHS Withholds Further Details
The Department of Homeland Security declined to provide additional information about Castro-Rivera or the other occupants of the vehicle. DHS also did not comment on its policies for conducting immigration operations on highways or busy roads.
Officials did confirm that ICE operations continue to prioritize individuals deemed public safety threats or with prior criminal convictions, though no details about Castro-Rivera’s case were released.
Similar Incident in California Raises Concerns
Thursday’s death was the second fatal incident in recent months involving individuals fleeing immigration enforcement. In August, Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez was struck and killed on a freeway in California after running from an immigration raid at a Home Depot, according to local authorities.
At the time, a DHS spokesperson told NBC News that agents were not pursuing Montoya Valdez when the fatal collision occurred.
“This individual was not being pursued by any DHS law enforcement,” the spokesperson said. “We do not know their legal status.”
The repeated incidents have prompted questions about ICE pursuit policies and the safety of conducting enforcement operations in high-traffic areas. DHS has not indicated whether it plans to revise its procedures following these deaths.
Growing Public Scrutiny
Advocates and immigrant-rights organizations have called for a review of ICE’s field operations, citing the dangers of performing traffic stops or enforcement actions near major highways.
Local officials say both cases highlight the urgent need for clearer safety protocols to prevent further loss of life during immigration-related operations.
What are your thoughts on the recent ICE-related deaths and how enforcement procedures should be handled? Share your views in the comments below.
