Internal orders from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have instructed officers to cease vehicle stops, as reported by five ICE officials. This directive was implemented in at least three administrative regions on July 14, 2026, following the shootings of two immigrants by ICE agents in Texas and Maine during vehicle stop attempts.
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, indicated that the change aims to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents in the future. One official noted that agents have been advised to apprehend individuals before they leave their parking spots or to follow them to safer locations, such as gas stations or workplaces, for arrests.
The directive, which was not issued as formal written orders, was communicated through field office directors to bypass bureaucratic processes. It primarily affects ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations division, which handles most immigration arrests.
The recent shootings involved Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston and Colombian national Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security stated that neither individual was the intended target of the operations. Investigations into the incidents are being conducted by the FBI, the Office of the Inspector General, and local attorney generals in both states.
The decision to halt vehicle stops marks a significant shift in ICE's enforcement tactics, which had included increased vehicle stops as part of operations during the Trump administration. The recent killings have prompted public outrage and calls for accountability, leading to a reevaluation of enforcement strategies.