ICE Suspends Vehicle Stops Following Shootings

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been ordered to temporarily halt vehicle stops after two deadly shootings in Texas and Maine. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued the directive following discussions with Senator Susan Collins, who recommended ceasing all non-urgent vehicle stops. A senior ICE official informed deportation officers via email that vehicle stops are paused immediately and that personnel should prioritize other operational methods for immigration enforcement. ICE typically conducts stops on individuals outside their residences but will continue vehicle stops for the most dangerous targets. The pause is described as temporary, and ICE officers will receive new training on vehicle stops. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that the agency evaluates procedures to ensure officer safety and public security. The directive follows the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Johan Sebastián Guerrero by an ICE agent in Biddeford, Maine, during an attempted vehicle stop. Guerrero was not the target of the operation, which was aimed at another individual. Witnesses reported that Guerrero stated, 'I tried to stop' before the shooting occurred.