A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was struck by a vehicle in New Jersey on Wednesday and then fired his weapon at the fleeing suspect, according to police. The incident unfolded in broad daylight in a residential area of Newark, leaving neighbors shaken and prompting a multi-agency investigation.
The agent, whose name has not been released, was conducting routine surveillance as part of an ongoing operation when the driver of a black SUV accelerated directly at him around 11:30 a.m., authorities said. Witnesses reported hearing a loud thud as the vehicle hit the agent, who was thrown to the pavement. The agent managed to draw his service weapon and fire multiple rounds at the SUV as it sped away, though it remains unclear if the suspect was struck.
A Chaotic Scene Unfolds
Newark police arrived within minutes to find the agent conscious but injured, with visible bruises and scrapes. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect vehicle, described as a late-model black Chevrolet Tahoe with tinted windows, was last seen heading south on Broad Street. Investigators recovered shell casings at the scene but have not confirmed any hits on the vehicle or its occupant.
“This was a targeted hit-and-run, plain and simple,” said a Newark police spokesperson, who declined to be named due to the ongoing investigation. “The agent was in a marked location, and the driver clearly intended to harm him.” The incident has reignited debates about the risks faced by federal agents in urban areas, where immigration enforcement often draws heated opposition.
Manhunt and Community Reaction
Local and federal authorities have launched a manhunt for the driver, releasing a grainy surveillance image of the SUV. The vehicle may have front-end damage from the collision. Residents in the working-class neighborhood expressed a mix of fear and frustration. Maria Torres, who lives nearby, told reporters she heard the gunshots from her kitchen. “I thought it was fireworks at first. Then I saw the agent on the ground, and I knew something terrible happened.”
ICE officials confirmed the agent is a member of its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) unit, which tracks down undocumented immigrants with criminal records or final removal orders. The agency did not specify whether the suspect was connected to a specific case. “We are grateful our officer is recovering, and we will not rest until the person responsible is in custody,” an ICE spokesperson said in a statement.
The investigation is being led by the FBI and the Newark Police Department. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. As of Thursday morning, no arrests had been made, and the suspect remains at large. The incident underscores the volatile nature of immigration enforcement, even as the Biden administration faces pressure to reform the system.