A man in Florida died after being struck by a tractor-trailer early morning on Tuesday, July 14, while reportedly fleeing from an encounter with Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident occurred near State Road 16 in St. Augustine, Fla., at around 6:40 a.m. local time.
An encounter with DHS and ICE turns fatal
The 28-year-old individual, whom the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified as a Mexican national, was one of four people who fled on foot from federal immigration agents after their vehicle stopped at a gas station. According to Sgt. Dylan Bryan of Florida Highway Patrol, the man ran across State Road 16 and “into the path of the tractor-trailer.” While the driver of the tractor-trailer stopped and tried to render aid, the man died at the scene.
The man’s immigration status is currently unknown, and the reason for the encounter with federal agents is not yet clear. DHS told Newsweek that both the Florida Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the incident and that additional information will be released as it becomes available.
ICE faces fresh wave of criticism following latest death
The death sparked a fresh wave of allegations and criticism aimed at federal immigration enforcement agencies and the way they handle their operations. Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon called for ICE to be abolished, writing on X that the latest incident was the result of “an out-of-control agency terrorizing our communities and our state.”
California Democratic Rep. Sam Liccardo also criticized the agency, writing on X that “ICE presence is a tremendous public safety risk in every city.” He added that “calling them ‘Keystone Cops’ would minimize their tragic damage to every community.”
Adriana Rivera, a spokesperson for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said fear often drives people to flee immigration agents. “When federal agents descend on communities and initiate encounters that spark panic and fear, people run,” she said. “In the United States, in 2026, whether someone runs or complies with ICE, death is a very real possible outcome.”
Third death in a week linked to ICE operations
The death came amid heightened nationwide scrutiny of immigration enforcement operations. It marks the third death in roughly a week linked to ICE encounters. On July 7, ICE officers shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during an enforcement operation in Houston, Texas. DHS later claimed he drove his vehicle toward agents and ignored commands to stop. The department described the shooting as self-defense, claiming that Araujo “weaponized his vehicle.”
A day before the Florida incident, ICE officers fatally shot 26-year-old Colombian national Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero during an enforcement operation in Biddeford, Maine. DHS said an officer opened fire out of concerns for “public safety” after Guerrero attempted to flee in his vehicle. The case prompted questions about ICE’s use-of-force policies after reports emerged that the officers involved were not wearing body cameras.
The shooting sparked protests, calls for independent investigations and demands for greater transparency from officials in both Maine and Colombia. The Maine attorney general, DHS’ Office of Inspector General and other federal authorities are continuing to investigate.
ICE pauses most vehicle stops
The back-to-back fatalities prompted the Trump administration to temporarily suspend most ICE vehicle stops. Exceptions remain for operations involving criminal warrants or joint investigations with other law enforcement agencies. An ICE spokesperson said, “We are always evaluating our procedures to keep our officers safe and criminals off our streets. We will not disclose or discuss law enforcement tactics.”
President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, rejected suggestions that the move represented a permanent policy shift. “Look, it’s not a policy change, it’s a temporary pause,” Homan told Fox News on Tuesday. “This is a temporary pause while they look at the incidents. But let me say this too: I hear a lot of noise right now. ‘This is going to affect ICE arrests.’ And it’s not going to.”
