Philadelphia ICE vehicle catches fire due to ‘mechanical issues’: ICE

The vehicle was reportedly being used for deportation operations at the time of the incident. There were no injuries.

"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. There were no injuries due to the fast response from the fire department and the vehicle’s occupants. The cause of the fire is unknown, but no foul play is suspected at this time," the agency said in a statement.

The fire comes just weeks after ICE conducted a worksite enforcement operation on Jan. 28 at Complete Autowash in Philadelphia. That operation was based on allegations of labor exploitation and resulted in the arrest of seven illegal aliens—six from Mexico and one from the Dominican Republic—who were detained pending removal.

“The successful execution of this worksite enforcement operation underscores our determined commitment to national security and public safety,” said Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia Acting Field Office Director Brian McShane. “We were able to apprehend individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States.”

ICE has not yet commented on whether the van fire is related to the recent enforcement actions. Members of the public with information about the incident or other suspicious activity can contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or submit a report online.