ICE Ordered To Suspend Most Vehicle Stops Following Two Fatal Shootings Under Trump
ICE suspends most vehicle stops after deadly shootings.
The Trump administration has directed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to suspend most vehicle stops following two fatal shootings involving immigration enforcement personnel within a week, officials familiar with the decision said on Tuesday. The policy change comes amid growing criticism of ICE tactics and renewed scrutiny over the use of force during immigration operations. The suspension applies to most vehicle stops conducted by ICE officers but includes exceptions for certain situations, such as executing criminal warrants or operations carried out in coordination with partner law enforcement agencies.
A person familiar with the decision said the directive was intended to address concerns following recent deadly encounters while allowing officers to continue carrying out specific enforcement actions. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter involved sensitive law enforcement operations. The move follows the fatal shooting of a Colombian national in Maine on Monday and another deadly shooting involving an ICE officer in Houston a week earlier. The incidents have intensified debate over the methods used by federal immigration authorities and led to renewed calls for greater oversight of enforcement operations.
The agency had already faced criticism following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota last winter, which triggered nationwide discussions over immigration enforcement practices. The Maine incident involved the death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian national. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an ICE officer shot and killed Durán Guerrero while officers were monitoring the residence of an individual they believed was living in the United States illegally and had received a final order of removal.
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DHS said in a post on X that when officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by someone who had left the residence, the driver allegedly tried to flee, prompting the officer to fire. Hundreds of people gathered in Maine on Tuesday to protest the killing, demanding accountability and a review of ICE enforcement practices. The incident has drawn attention from local officials and lawmakers, including Maine Senator Angus King's office.
Matthew Felling, a spokesperson for King, said the senator's office was informed by the Department of Homeland Security that ICE was suspending vehicle stops following the recent shootings. In a separate incident in Florida, a third person died within roughly a week following an encounter involving immigration officers. Authorities said a 28-year-old man was killed after being struck by a tractor-trailer while fleeing from immigration and other federal officers. The Florida death added to concerns surrounding high-risk encounters between federal agents and individuals attempting to avoid detention.
The latest directive represents a significant adjustment in ICE operations as federal authorities face increased public and political scrutiny over enforcement tactics. Officials have not announced how long the suspension of vehicle stops will remain in place or whether additional policy changes are being considered. Meanwhile, investigations into the recent shootings continue, with authorities examining the circumstances surrounding each incident and determining whether officers followed established procedures. The developments have intensified the national debate over immigration enforcement, public safety and the balance between aggressive policing and accountability.
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