ICE has temporarily halted most vehicle stops during immigration enforcement operations across the country after two fatal shootings in Maine and Texas raised questions about the agency’s tactics. The suspension will continue while officers receive additional training.
ICE temporarily changes enforcement policy
us migrant Customs enforcement officers have been told to immediately stop most vehicle stops during enforcement operations across the country. The only exceptions are cases involving serious criminal targets. This comes after a fatal shooting Texas and maine Last week, multiple law enforcement sources said cbs news.
This command applies to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), which handles civil immigration arrests and deportations. It does not apply to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which primarily investigates criminal cases. The suspension is temporary as ERO officers receive additional training on vehicle interdiction tactics.
Currently, ERO officers can still participate in vehicle stops if they work with other law enforcement agencies to arrest suspects with judicial warrants, CBS reported.
what happened in maine
A federal immigration agent shot and killed a person in a vehicle in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security said that around 7 a.m. local time, ICE agents had been monitoring the last known address of a person living in the country illegally who had been issued a deportation order. A person then left the address in the car.
Agents attempted to stop the vehicle. “The vehicle attempted to flee the scene and due to concerns for public safety, an officer opened fire,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. The driver was struck and died from his injuries.
In a separate message sent to some members of Congress, the department used stronger language, saying the driver was “using his vehicle for law enforcement purposes.” new york times.
In update Share on X, The Department of Homeland Security provided further details about the incident. According to the Department of Homeland Security, on July 13, 2026, at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time, ICE was conducting targeted surveillance at the last known address of an illegal alien who was the subject of a final order of deportation. An illegal alien then drove away from the residence and ICE law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle. “The vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, in the interest of public safety, an officer discharged his weapon,” DHS said. “The driver was struck and emergency services were immediately contacted.” He later died from his injuries.
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Bideford Police Department and FBI responded to the scene and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General has been notified. “Like all firearms shootings, this matter will be investigated,” the Department of Homeland Security said, adding that the situation was still developing and the public would be updated as more information becomes available.
Matthew Fearing, a spokesman for Maine Senator Angus King, said the deceased was identified as 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a Colombian national, the New York Times reported.
Ferrin said King had spoken with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who first said the man who was shot was the subject of an arrest warrant, then called back and corrected that statement. “The person they shot was not the person they were looking for,” Ferrin said.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Guerrero was not a target and that agents were monitoring an address associated with “illegal aliens who have received a final order of deportation” when they attempted to intercept Guerrero’s car.
The Colombian embassy said it was assisting Guerrero’s family and had sought details from the Department of Homeland Security “regarding the circumstances surrounding this tragic death.”
Texas shooting, one week ago
Just six days before the shooting in Maine, a similar situation occurred in Houston. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot and killed by ICE officers who stopped his car while looking for another person, CBS News reported.
“After receiving a credible tip from our law enforcement partners, our officers conducted surveillance of the targeted address. In the weeks leading up to the incident, they noticed two white vans on the property,” the Department of Homeland Security said. “On July 7, when officers were nearly at the targeted address, officers observed an individual similar to the subject in a white van. Officers then initiated a traffic stop.”
