A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) van caught on fire in Philadelphia on Tuesday. While officials reported that the cause of the fire currently remains “unknown,” the agency indicated that the fire was not caused by “foul play.”
A video shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Libs of TikTok shows the ICE minivan engulfed in flames on a street in Philadelphia.
According to The Post Millennial, the ICE van that caught on fire was reportedly being used for federal deportation operations on Tuesday.
In a statement to The Post Millennial, ICE officials said, “A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle experienced mechanical issues and caught on fire in South Philadelphia, today. The Philadelphia Fire Department extinguished the flames after arriving on scene.”
ICE officials confirmed that no injuries were reported from Tuesday’s incident as a result of the “fast response” from the Philadelphia Fire Department and the individuals who were in the vehicle when the fire started.
“The cause of the fire is unknown, but no foul play is suspected at this time,” the agency added.
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According to Newsweek, the ICE van fire was first reported at roughly 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday near South Front Street in the Society Hill area of Philadelphia. The outlet noted that while initial reports suggested that the fire could have been started by protesters, ICE officials confirmed that the government vehicle had experienced “mechanical issues.”
Tuesday’s incident involving the ICE vehicle in Philadelphia comes less than a month after ICE officials announced that the agency had executed a “worksite enforcement operation” at Complete Autowash in Philadelphia following allegations that employees had been “subjected to labor exploitation.” ICE officials confirmed that seven illegal immigrants from Mexico and the Dominican Republic were arrested and detained as a result of the operation.
“The successful execution of this worksite enforcement operation underscores our determined commitment to national security and public safety,” Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia Acting Field Office Director Brian McShane said at the time.
“We were able to apprehend individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States,” McShane added. “These operations highlight the dedication and diligence of our officers and agents in protecting our communities from potential threats by enforcing immigration laws in accordance with U.S. laws and Department of Homeland Security policies.”
