A man with a criminal record, identified as an undocumented immigrant, remains at large following an incident where he allegedly rammed his vehicle into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle in Pennsylvania. The event prompted a federal agent to discharge their weapon, according to authorities.
The individual, Lara-Hernandez, reportedly “weaponized his car” by intentionally striking an ICE vehicle, the agency stated. Following this, an ICE spokesperson reported that the undocumented immigrant “dangerously drove in the wrong direction on a one-way street and crashed into a civilian vehicle.”
During the confrontation, an ICE agent fired their weapon, and another agent sustained a laceration to the hand. No individuals appeared to have been struck by the gunfire, and Lara-Hernandez has not yet been apprehended.
Federal Response and Suspect's Background
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed its presence at the scene but declined to offer further details, citing that “Justice Department policy prevents us from commenting on the nature of any investigations that may or may not be occurring.”
ICE officials indicated that Lara-Hernandez's criminal history includes not only a prior hit-and-run but also an assault and a domestic violence incident.
Increasing Dangers for Immigration Officers
The incident occurs amidst a reported surge in assaults targeting ICE officers nationwide as they conduct immigration enforcement operations. The agency highlighted a concerning trend of increased aggression towards its personnel.
“Our ICE law enforcement officers are facing a more than 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest the worst of the worst,” ICE stated.