Tragic Death of Honduran Immigrant Sparks Outrage Over ICE Operations

Mon Nov 10 2025 23:17:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Josué Castro Rivera, a 24-year-old Honduran immigrant, died in a vehicle collision while fleeing ICE agents in Virginia, raising questions about the conduct of immigration enforcement.

The death of Josué Castro Rivera after being hit by a vehicle while fleeing from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has highlighted ongoing controversies surrounding immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump administration. His brother described Castro Rivera as a caring man who worked hard to support his family back in Honduras. Meanwhile, DHS stated he 'resisted heavily' before fleeing, igniting further debates on the treatment of immigrants and the implications of ICE operations.

A 24-year-old Honduran man named Josué Castro Rivera tragically lost his life on a Virginia highway after being struck by a vehicle while fleeing from federal immigration agents. This incident adds to a troubling pattern of fatalities linked to immigration enforcement actions during the Trump administration.

Castro Rivera was reportedly on his way to a gardening job when his vehicle was stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, according to his brother, Henry Castro. After agents attempted to detain him and three others in the vehicle, Castro Rivera fled on foot and tragically attempted to cross Interstate 264, where he was fatally struck.

Having migrated to the United States four years ago, Castro Rivera worked diligently to provide financial support to his family back in Honduras. His brother lamented, “He had a very good heart,” illustrating the deep loss felt by his family.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Castro Rivera's vehicle was stopped as part of a targeted operation aimed at detaining individuals living in the country without legal permission. However, they did not comment on the specifics of the incident following a request from the media.

The incident raises critical questions about the dangers associated with current immigration enforcement practices, particularly in light of other recent fatal encounters during ICE operations. The ongoing pressures on immigrants and the drastic measures some might take to evade capture have become focal points in the discussions surrounding immigration policies.

Virginia State Police reported the collision occurred around 11 a.m. when Rivera was struck by a passing 2002 Ford pickup truck, and he was pronounced dead on the scene. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

As Castro's family seeks justice and the truth about what led to such a tragic death, the DHS has blamed his fatality on the dissemination of what it described as 'propaganda' that misrepresents ICE's mission and processes.

Similar tragedies have sparked protests and calls for reform in immigration operations, highlighting the immediate need for a review of policies that govern ICE operations and their impact on vulnerable immigrant populations.