Man Fleeing Immigration Officers in Florida Killed After Being Hit by Tractor-Trailer, Police Say

A 28-year-old man was killed Tuesday morning after being struck by a tractor-trailer while fleeing from federal immigration officers during an enforcement operation in St. Johns County, near St. Augustine, Florida. The incident has intensified scrutiny of U.S. immigration enforcement after becoming the latest in a series of deaths linked to federal operations.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the man was one of four occupants of a vehicle that stopped at a gas station and convenience store shortly before 7 a.m. as officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) carried out an enforcement action. As federal agents approached, the four men reportedly fled on foot in different directions.

Investigators said the 28-year-old ran toward State Road 16 and attempted to cross the busy highway. He entered the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer and was struck despite the truck driver attempting to avoid the collision. The driver immediately stopped and tried to assist, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not publicly released his identity pending notification of his family.

Police said the other three individuals who fled were pursued by federal officers. Authorities have not disclosed whether they were apprehended or whether they face immigration-related charges. The circumstances surrounding the operation remain under investigation, and federal agencies have released only limited details about why the group was targeted.

Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immediately responded to requests for comment from several news organizations following the fatal incident. Investigators have also not indicated whether body-camera footage or surveillance video from the gas station will be made public.

The fatality comes amid heightened debate over immigration enforcement tactics in the United States. According to reports, it is the third death within a week associated with federal immigration operations, prompting renewed criticism from immigrant rights advocates and some elected officials, who argue that aggressive enforcement strategies can create dangerous situations for those attempting to flee.

Supporters of stricter immigration enforcement, however, maintain that federal officers were carrying out lawful duties and emphasize that individuals fleeing law enforcement can place themselves and others at significant risk. Officials have not suggested that the tractor-trailer driver committed any wrongdoing, and no charges have been announced in connection with the collision.

The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into the crash, while federal authorities are expected to review the circumstances surrounding the immigration operation. Further details are anticipated as investigators interview witnesses and examine evidence from the scene.