ICE Suspends Most Vehicle Stops Nationwide Following Fatal Shootings in Maine and Texas
ICE vehicle stops suspension 2026
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a nationwide directive to suspend most vehicle stops during enforcement operations, effective immediately. The policy shift follows two fatal shootings involving ICE agents in less than a week, both occurring during attempted traffic stops in Maine and Texas.
Recent Escalation of Force
The suspension comes in the wake of significant public outcry and calls for independent investigations into the use of deadly force:
Biddeford, Maine (July 13, 2026): Agents attempting to conduct surveillance on a residence attempted to pull over a vehicle, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims attempted to flee the scene. An agent opened fire, killing the 26-year-old Colombian driver, identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero. Senator Angus King noted that the agents involved were not equipped with body cameras.
Houston, Texas (July 7, 2026): Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national and construction worker, was fatally shot after agents stopped his van during a targeted operation. DHS stated that Salgado Araujo attempted to ram an agent’s vehicle, prompting the officer to fire in self-defense. His family and local representatives have challenged this account and demanded a transparent investigation.
New Operational Directives
The temporary pause applies specifically to the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division.
Training Requirement: Sources indicate the suspension is designed to allow ERO officers to undergo additional training regarding high-risk vehicle-stop tactics.
Limited Exceptions: Agents may still conduct vehicle stops when working in collaboration with partner law enforcement agencies to apprehend “serious criminal targets” who are the subject of active judicial warrants.
Scope: The directive does not apply to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which primarily manages criminal inquiries.
The Department of Homeland Security stated it is evaluating procedures to ensure officer and public safety but declined to provide further details on specific tactical changes.
