U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has resumed vehicle stops after a temporary halt following two fatal shootings involving immigration officers in Texas and Maine. The initial directive to cease vehicle stops was issued on July 13, 2026, shortly after the incidents. However, on July 15, President Donald Trump directed ICE to resume these stops, although reports indicated that some officers did not comply with this directive.
An internal email from ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations division, dated July 22, 2026, outlined new guidelines for vehicle stops, requiring officers to coordinate with their supervisors during enforcement activities. The email stated, "ERO law enforcement officers are authorized to conduct vehicle stops."
The shootings involved Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, both of which prompted public outcry and calls for accountability from government officials. A significant concern raised was that the officers involved were not wearing body cameras during the incidents.
In response, the new policy mandates that at least one officer involved in a vehicle stop must wear an activated body-worn camera. However, the rollout of these cameras has been slow, with only about half of ICE officers currently equipped. The new policy also emphasizes the necessity of training for officers conducting vehicle stops, which was previously reduced during an accelerated hiring process under the Trump administration.