ICE suspends most immigration vehicle stops after fatal encounters in Texas and Maine: Reports

WASHINGTON,DC: A key tactic used by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers is being put on hold after two fatal encounters involving agency personnel sparked fresh scrutiny.

According to reports to multiple media outlets published Tuesday, July 14, ICE has temporarily suspended most immigration-related vehicle stops across the country, a move expected to reshape day-to-day enforcement while officers undergo additional operational training.

ICE suspends vehicle stops after fatal encounters 

The new guidance affects officers working under ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the division responsible for locating and arresting people living in the United States illegally.

Multiple media reports state that instead of initiating routine traffic stops during immigration operations, officers have now been instructed to avoid using that tactic in most situations.

Federal officials reportedly said exceptions will be made only for operations involving the most dangerous criminal suspects or when ICE is working alongside another law enforcement agency executing a criminal warrant.

Officials familiar with the directive said the policy is temporary and will remain in place while officers receive updated training focused on conducting vehicle-related operations safely.

Two ICE shootings spark concerns

The policy change follows two separate incidents in less than a week that ended with ICE officers fatally shooting drivers during enforcement operations.

One case unfolded in Houston, Texas, where immigration officers shot and killed a man after an attempted traffic stop.

Federal authorities later alleged the driver tried to strike officers with his vehicle before shots were fired.

That account was disputed by witnesses and attorneys representing people who were present, triggering public criticism and demands for greater transparency.

Days later, another fatal confrontation occurred in Biddeford, Maine.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE officers had been monitoring a residence connected to an individual with a final deportation order.

A vehicle leaving the property became the focus of the operation. Authorities said the driver attempted to flee during the encounter, prompting an officer to open fire after concluding public safety was at risk.

The department has not released further details explaining what immediate threat officers faced before the shooting.

The suspension comes during a period of intensified immigration enforcement across the United States.

Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, ICE has significantly increased arrests as part of its broader deportation campaign.

Internal enforcement figures previously reported by Reuters showed arrests climbing rapidly in several states, including Maine, where daily immigration arrests reportedly increased several-fold over recent weeks.