President Donald Trump has reversed an internal directive by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which had paused vehicle stops for just 24 hours. This decision comes after two deadly shootings involving ICE agents, as reported by Univision.
The original memorandum, dated July 14, instructed ICE agents to scale back on traffic stops and focus on other operational tactics. However, Trump announced the policy reversal on his social media platform, Truth Social, emphasizing the importance of traffic stops in fighting crime. "We CANNOT give up one of ICE's most important and effective tools," he declared.
Trump cautioned that pulling back would "play directly into the hands of criminals" and directed ICE agents to be "judicious, fair, and smart," urging them to continue their crucial work.
Fatal Shootings Prompted Initial Pause
The brief suspension was prompted by two fatal shootings within six days, where ICE agents mistakenly shot individuals who were not the intended targets of their operations. On July 7, an agent shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national living in the U.S. for nearly 35 years, in Houston, Texas. He was a father of three American citizens.
On July 13, another incident occurred in Biddeford, Maine, where an ICE agent killed Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian with a work permit and Social Security number. Durán Guerrero was the father of a three-year-old girl.
Criticism and Calls for Reform
The absence of body cameras on agents involved in these incidents has sparked significant criticism, even from within the Republican Party. Republican Senator Susan Collins from Maine has called on Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to halt all non-urgent traffic stops and mandate body cameras for all ICE agents.
The White House's "border czar," Tom Homan, characterized the pause as a minor, temporary measure. In an interview with Fox News, he described it as a "short-term review" to ensure ICE agents' safety and proper conduct.
Concerns Over ICE's Use of Force
The July shootings are part of a troubling pattern of increased force usage since 2025. Since the start of that year, ICE agents have been involved in over 20 shooting incidents, mostly involving vehicles. Experts critique ICE's aggressive tactics and the lack of proper training for conducting traffic stops according to established police standards.
In 2025, the use of force in ICE detention centers surged by 37%, with 780 documented incidents. Furthermore, the death rate in custody reached a 22-year high, with 88.9 deaths per 100,000 detainees by May 2026.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security has responded to media inquiries regarding these issues. Meanwhile, the FBI in Houston and the DHS Office of Inspector General are investigating the Texas shooting. The agent involved in Maine's case has been suspended, pending federal investigations.
Key Questions About ICE's Policies and Practices
What prompted the temporary suspension of ICE vehicle stops?
The suspension was initiated due to two fatal shootings by ICE agents, where individuals not targeted by the operations were mistakenly killed.
Why has there been criticism of ICE's tactics?
Criticism arises from the aggressive nature of ICE's tactics and the lack of body cameras on agents, which has led to fatal incidents and calls for reform.