Trump pushes ICE to continue vehicle stops after administration pause following deadly encounters
President Donald Trump pushed back against plans to suspend most Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle stops, saying the tactic remains a critical tool in his administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
Trump said Wednesday that ending traffic stops would benefit criminals and urged ICE officers to continue using the practice. His comments came one day after officials announced a temporary pause on most vehicle stops following a series of deadly encounters involving federal immigration agents.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin later said he and Trump were aligned on the issue, emphasizing that ICE officers should have the resources and options needed to carry out their duties while staying safe. He did not directly confirm whether most vehicle stops would resume.
The debate follows three deaths in one week involving encounters with federal immigration officers. In Florida, a 28-year-old man was killed Tuesday after he ran from agents and was struck by a tractor-trailer. Earlier, two motorists were fatally shot by ICE officers in separate incidents in Texas and Maine.
Critics have raised concerns about the use of vehicle stops, particularly after multiple shootings involving drivers. Law enforcement experts have warned that firing at moving vehicles can create additional dangers.
At least 10 people have died in incidents involving immigration agents since Trump launched his deportation campaign, with several cases involving vehicles. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called for a halt to non-urgent vehicle stops following the recent shootings, saying the incidents raised serious concerns.
The Maine shooting has drawn national attention after 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a Colombian national, was killed during an ICE operation in Biddeford. Officials said agents were attempting to stop a vehicle connected to an immigration enforcement action when the driver fled and an officer opened fire. Questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the fact that the officers involved were not wearing body cameras.
The shooting has sparked protests and calls for further investigation. Guerrero’s family and supporters dispute aspects of the government’s account, while officials continue reviewing the incident.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that state authorities would investigate the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was killed during an ICE traffic stop in Houston earlier this month. The circumstances of that shooting have also been disputed, with witnesses offering different accounts of what happened.
The FBI is separately investigating whether suspected drugs were found inside the vehicle involved in the Texas incident, though officials have not said whether that played a role in the ICE encounter.
Trump said ICE officers should continue carrying out their mission while being “judicious, fair and smart.” Other officials said investigations into the shootings must continue and that officers would be held accountable if wrongdoing is found.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills criticized ICE’s current approach and said the agency needs major changes to prevent additional deaths.
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