ICE Suspends Most Vehicle Stops Nationwide
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been instructed to immediately suspend most vehicle stops across the country following two fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Texas and Maine.
The suspension excludes cases involving serious criminal targets, according to US media reports citing unnamed law enforcement sources.
This directive represents a significant policy change for the agency, which has faced criticism over the past year regarding allegations of excessive force and scrutiny related to deaths occurring during its operations.
The BBC has reached out to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment on the updated policy.
A spokesperson declined to comment, stating, "We are always evaluating our procedures to keep our officers safe and criminals off our streets."
"We will not disclose or discuss law enforcement tactics."
Fatal Shooting in Maine
In the most recent incident, an ICE agent fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian national during an immigration enforcement operation in Maine.
DHS reported that the officer, "fearing for public safety," opened fire when the man attempted to flee the scene after agents tried to stop his vehicle. The department did not specify the nature of the threat posed by the individual.
The shooting occurred in Biddeford, Maine, approximately 24 km (15 miles) south of Portland.
Immigration advocates have stated that the man, not yet officially named but identified by local lawmakers and neighbors as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, was authorized to work in the US and possessed a social security number.
The Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition and Presente! Maine issued a joint statement describing his death as "devastating, enraging, and unacceptable."
Fatal Shooting in Texas
Less than a week earlier, a Mexican national who had lived in the US for decades was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Houston, Texas.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, was stopped at 07:00 local time (12:00 GMT) while driving to work and was killed shortly thereafter.
DHS stated that the stop was initiated because agents observed "a white van with an individual who resembled the target" of an operation. They reported the officer shot in self-defense and that Araujo was not the intended target.
Passengers in the van and the victim's family have disputed the department's account. Additionally, the agency's legal watchdog has launched an investigation into the fatal shooting.
Public Response and Context
Both shootings in Maine and Texas have sparked protests.
These incidents follow demonstrations earlier this year across the US after the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, two 37-year-old US citizens who were shot and killed by ICE agents during raids in Minneapolis in January.
US President Donald Trump subsequently replaced Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security with Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma. Former border patrol chief Gregory Bovino was also replaced shortly thereafter.
Trump initiated a campaign of mass deportations soon after returning to the White House, fulfilling a major campaign promise.
According to , at least seven people have been killed in immigration enforcement operations since January 2025.
- Colombian national killed by ICE agent during operation in Maine
- Man fatally shot by ICE in Houston was not intended target, DHS says
