ICE Suspends Vehicle Stops Following Fatal Shootings

Late on July 13, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials announced the suspension of vehicle stops for immigration enforcement, following two fatal shootings involving ICE officers in a week. Liana Castano, an ICE official, communicated this directive in an email to supervisors, stating that officers should prioritize other methods of enforcement. Exceptions would be made for pursuing criminal suspects in cooperation with local police. The decision was made by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, with support from ICE acting director David Venturella. Senator Susan Collins of Maine had previously urged Mullin to halt nonurgent vehicle stops. The officer involved in the Maine shooting was a recent recruit from the Department of Veterans Affairs Police and had been in federal law enforcement since 2017. The shooting incident resulted in the death of 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero, who was not the target of the operation. The FBI and DHS's internal affairs division are investigating both shootings. Concerns about insufficient training for ICE officers conducting vehicle stops have been raised, especially following the earlier shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. The agency has increased its workforce significantly in recent months, leading to a fast-tracked training process that has drawn criticism.