An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was struck by a van driven by a fleeing suspect during an enforcement operation in New Jersey on Monday and opened fire on the vehicle as it sped away, authorities said.

The incident reportedly occurred around 9:30 a.m. near Mermaid Drive in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township, about 60 miles east of Philadelphia, as federal agents attempted to take the suspect into custody.

Although the injured agent's condition was not immediately released, sources told NBC Philadelphia that the agent is expected to recover.

Authorities have not released a description of the suspect or said if the driver was wounded. NBC reported that the van's rear window may have been shot out when the agent fired his weapon.

Officials have not revealed why the suspect was being sought.

Route 72 remained closed in both directions as authorities investigated the incident and searched for the suspect and vehicle.

Video from the scene showed approximately two dozen ICE agents in tactical gear as investigators secured the area with yellow crime-scene tape.

The incident comes amid a sharp rise in attacks targeting ICE personnel nationwide. According to Department of Homeland Security data provided to the New York Post, vehicle assaults against ICE agents have surged more than 3,200% since President Donald Trump's return to office.

Federal officials have blamed the increase on “radical rhetoric from sanctuary politicians.”

From Jan. 21, 2025 to Jan. 7, 2026, ICE agents reported 66 attacks, compared with just two during the same period in 2024, according to DHS data.

Newsmax reached out to ICE for comment on the incident but did not receive an immediate response.