President Donald Trump announced on July 15 that he will not permit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to suspend most traffic stops. This declaration came just one day after officials had ordered a temporary halt to the practice following two separate fatal shootings involving federal agents in Maine and Texas.
In a social media post, the president emphasized the importance of maintaining current enforcement tactics. "We must be strong, tough, and smart, and we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!" Trump wrote. He further stated that the administration would not allow the practice to end, adding, "I.C.E., be judicious, fair and smart, and go back and do your very important job."
The temporary pause was initially ordered on July 14 after ICE agents shot and killed two individuals within a six-day span. On July 13, an agent shot and killed a Colombian man in a residential area of Biddeford, Maine. Previously, on July 7, an officer fatally shot a Mexican national during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas. In both instances, officials noted that the victims were not the targets of the immigration enforcement operations, and none of the agents involved were wearing body cameras. These events have sparked protests and intensified scrutiny regarding the tactics used in the administration’s aggressive deportation campaign.
White House border czar Tom Homan described the initial pause as a "short-term review to make sure ICE agents are safe and doing the right thing," clarifying that it was not a policy change. Homan, speaking in a Fox News interview, defended the use of traffic stops, citing a record number of vehicle ramming attacks against federal agents. He also maintained that ICE agents receive extensive training for these encounters. "I asked ICE to give me the training curriculum for the academy, and there's an extensive vehicle stop training," Homan said, adding that he expects the agency to continue its high volume of arrests and removals.
The use of traffic stops as an immigration enforcement tool has increased significantly during Trump’s second term, coinciding with a rise in incidents where agents have opened fire on drivers. Since the beginning of last year, immigration agents have shot more than 20 people, the majority of whom were inside vehicles. Policing and use-of-force experts have criticized these tactics as overly aggressive and inconsistent with standard policing practices, suggesting a lack of sufficient training.
Following the shooting in Biddeford, Republican Sen. Susan Collins expressed concern, stating the incident raised "sufficient critical questions" and prompted her to urge Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to suspend non-urgent traffic stops. She had previously noted on X that she was encouraged by the Department's initial agreement to pause the activity. It remains unclear whether ICE will proceed with the suspension as originally announced, as neither the agency nor the Department of Homeland Security responded to requests for comment, though the latter shared the president's statement on X.
"Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal’s hands. The Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won’t happen on my watch. I.C.E., be judicious, fair and smart, and go back and do your very important job," he added.
