ICE Agent Injured
ICE agent struck by fleeing van, fires weapon during New Jersey custody attempt
Key Points
Stafford Township Police said they were notified at about 9:30 a.m. and that they were “informed that federal immigration officials were attempting to take someone in custody,” while emphasizing they “adher[e] to the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive” and were “not assisting or a part of the I.C.E. operation” (with their role limited to managing traffic and securing the crime scene).
Authorities reported the ICE agent “was treated at the scene and transported for medical care,” while “Officials have not released information regarding the extent of the agent’s injuries.” Images circulating online showed the agent seated on the ground before emergency responders placed him on a stretcher.
Police said they had not disclosed “why the individual was being sought” and whether any arrest had been made following the flight.
Stafford Township Police added that “there is no reason to believe there is any concern for the public’s safety,” even as the suspect remained at large and Route 72 was affected by the search and investigation.
An ICE agent was struck by a van and opened fire on the fleeing vehicle Monday morning during a targeted arrest attempt in Stafford Township, New Jersey, according to NBC New York. The suspect, identified as Freidrich Castillo-Ormeno, a Peruvian national under a final order of removal, remains at large as the FBI leads the search.
The confrontation unfolded around 9:20 a.m. near Route 72 and Mermaid Drive in the Manahawkin area. The agent was hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening but significant, according to CBS News NY. Route 72 was shut down in both directions for roughly 6.5 hours.
Suspect Rams Agent, Shots Ring Out on Route 72
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents initiated a vehicle stop on Route 72 when the suspect allegedly accelerated his white van and struck one of the agents, according to News 12 NJ. Witnesses described hearing "boom, boom, boom" in rapid succession. The van's rear window was shattered, consistent with gunfire.
The injured agent was treated at the scene and then transported for medical care, NBC Philadelphia reported. Images circulating online showed him seated on the ground before being placed on a stretcher. Officials have not released full details on the extent of his injuries.
FBI Takes Over as Suspect Vanishes in White Van
By 11:00 a.m., the FBI and Ocean County Prosecutor's Office arrived to take over the investigation, treating the case as an assault on a federal officer. The suspect is believed to be driving a white van with a cartoon animal or bulldog logo on the side, according to News 12 NJ.
Castillo-Ormeno was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on January 30, 2026, according to an ICE statement via NJ 101.5. Officials said they had not disclosed why the individual was being sought or whether any arrest had been made after the flight. Stafford Township Police said there is "no reason to believe there is any concern for the public's safety."
New Jersey's Trust Directive Kept Local Police on the Sidelines
Stafford Township Police were clear: they were not part of the ICE operation. They cited New Jersey's Immigrant Trust Directive, a state policy that bars local police from joining civil immigration enforcement unless there is a specific criminal warrant or clear public safety threat, according to Fresno Bee.
Local officers' role was limited to managing traffic and securing the crime scene. "We adhere to the Attorney General's Immigrant Trust Directive," the department stated. The investigation itself is being handled by federal authorities, not Stafford Township Police.
ICE Cites Sharp Rise in Vehicle Attacks Against Agents
ICE officials said the incident reflects a "disturbing trend." A spokesperson claimed a 3,300% increase in vehicle-related assaults against agents nationwide, according to NJ 101.5. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) issued a statement saying, "This incident is a reminder of the dangers these brave men and women face."
Civil rights groups pushed back, raising questions about firing a weapon in a busy commercial corridor near local schools. Federal guidance generally discourages shooting at moving vehicles unless a threat exists beyond the car itself, according to NBC Philadelphia. The agent's firearm discharge will face an internal review by ICE and potentially the Department of Justice.
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