A 24-year-old Honduran man died on an interstate in Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday after he was struck by a vehicle while attempting to flee federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Josué Castro Rivera was pulled over while on his way to a gardening job, according to his brother, Henry Castro. When agents attempted to detain him and the three other passengers in the vehicle as part of a “targeted, intelligence-based” operation, Castro Rivera fled on foot.
He was fatally struck by a 2002 Ford pickup on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 264 at the Military Highway interchange, according to Virginia State Police.
Castro Rivera had been living in the United States for four years and was sending money home to family in Honduras, his brother said, calling his death an “injustice.”
READ: ‘Operation Boogeyman’ Nets 16 Online Predators In Citrus County Undercover Sting
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Castro Rivera “resisted heavily and fled,” and blamed his death on those who “continue to spread propaganda and misinformation about ICE’s mission.”
This death follows a series of recent incidents with increased immigration enforcement, including three other deaths of immigrants in Chicago and California during enforcement operations.
These earlier incidents have triggered protests, lawsuits, and calls for investigations over claims that initial government accounts have been misleading. The crash remains under investigation.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
