U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reportedly issued a temporary nationwide directive ordering its officers to stop pursuing people in vehicles and attempting to arrest them through traffic stops.
According to an NBC News investigation, the policy change followed two fatal shootings involving ICE officers and drivers within one week—one in Houston, Texas, and another in Biddeford, Maine. Neither person killed was reportedly the original target of the ICE operation.
NBC News further reported that current and former immigration officials are questioning whether pressure to increase arrest numbers, combined with inadequate training and increasingly aggressive street-enforcement tactics, may have contributed to the deadly encounters.
What Does the New ICE Order Say?
According to reports, ICE leadership instructed officers to suspend vehicle stops nationwide until further notice.
The order reportedly states that ICE officers should use other enforcement methods instead of attempting to stop people while they are driving. Exceptions may apply when ICE is pursuing a person with a criminal warrant in cooperation with another law enforcement agency.
This is an important change because vehicle stops had become one of ICE’s most frequently used methods for making arrests.
Immigration officers often waited near homes and followed individuals as they left for work. Officers operating from unmarked vehicles would then attempt to stop the person’s car.
The new directive does not necessarily prohibit ICE from following vehicles, conducting surveillance, making arrests at workplaces or approaching individuals after they leave a vehicle. It also does not prevent ICE from conducting arrests inside homes when officers have lawful authority to enter.
The policy is temporary and may be changed or withdrawn by the administration.
Two Fatal Shootings Led to the Policy Change
The nationwide order followed two fatal ICE shootings involving vehicles during the week of July 7, 2026.
Fatal ICE Shooting in Houston
On July 7, 2026, an ICE officer fatally shot 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo as he was driving members of his construction crew to a job site in Houston.
Salgado Araujo had reportedly lived in the United States for approximately 35 years. His family said he had no criminal record and was close to obtaining lawful immigration status.
DHS acknowledged that ICE officers were looking for someone else when they approached his vehicle.
According to DHS, Salgado Araujo ignored commands, struck an ICE vehicle and attempted to drive toward an officer. DHS stated that the officer fired in self-defense.
However, witnesses reportedly gave a different account. Members of Salgado Araujo’s construction crew told a member of Congress that the ICE officers were positioned beside the vehicle rather than directly in front of it.
The ICE officers involved were not wearing body cameras, and DHS has not publicly released video showing the moments before the shooting. The DHS Office of Inspector General is investigating.
Fatal ICE Shooting in Maine
On July 13, 2026, an ICE officer fatally shot 26-year-old Colombian national Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine.
ICE officers were reportedly conducting surveillance at an address associated with a person who had a final removal order. Durán Guerrero left the residence in a vehicle, but reports indicate that he was not the person ICE originally intended to arrest.
DHS initially indicated that the vehicle was used as a weapon against officers. A later DHS statement said the driver attempted to flee and that an officer fired because of concerns for public safety.
The officer was reportedly not wearing a body camera. Maine’s attorney general and federal authorities announced investigations into the shooting.
Pressure to Increase ICE Arrests
The Trump administration has significantly expanded immigration enforcement and reportedly pushed ICE to make approximately 2,000 arrests per day.
Current and former officials have raised concerns that officers may be under intense pressure to reach internal arrest goals. Vehicle stops became increasingly important to ICE because arrests inside homes usually require either the resident’s consent or a judicial warrant authorizing entry.
Reports also indicate that ICE hired thousands of new officers and temporarily shortened portions of its training program. Some veteran officers reportedly expressed concern that newer personnel did not receive adequate training on vehicle stops, de-escalation and the use of deadly force involving moving vehicles.
Aggressive enforcement goals do not eliminate constitutional protections. ICE officers must still comply with the Fourth Amendment, federal law and the agency’s use-of-force policies.
Why Vehicle Stops Can Become Dangerous
Vehicle stops can quickly escalate because people may not immediately realize that they are dealing with law enforcement.
ICE officers frequently use unmarked vehicles and may be dressed in plain clothes, tactical clothing or clothing that does not clearly identify them as federal officers. A driver may believe that unknown individuals are attempting to block, surround or enter the vehicle.
At the same time, ICE officers may view a moving vehicle as a potential deadly weapon.
These circumstances create a dangerous situation in which fear, confusion and sudden movements can lead to serious injury or death.
Law enforcement experts have warned for decades that officers should avoid shooting into moving vehicles whenever possible. Shooting the driver can cause the vehicle to continue moving without anyone controlling it, endangering officers, passengers and bystanders.
Does the Order Stop ICE From Arresting People?
No.
The suspension of vehicle stops does not stop immigration enforcement. ICE may continue to:
- Conduct surveillance near homes and workplaces;
- Approach individuals in public places;
- Make arrests after individuals exit their vehicles;
- Arrest people at immigration court or government appointments when permitted;
- Arrest individuals at workplaces;
- Execute criminal warrants;
- Seek judicial warrants;
- Ask residents for permission to enter homes; and
- Coordinate operations with local or federal law enforcement agencies.
The directive changes one enforcement tactic. It does not create legal status, cancel a removal order or protect someone from arrest through other methods.
What Should You Do If ICE Attempts to Stop Your Vehicle?
Do not attempt to flee, drive away at high speed or use your vehicle to avoid officers. Even when you believe the stop is unlawful, attempting to escape can place you and your passengers in immediate physical danger.
Instead:
- Slow down and stop in a safe location;
- Keep your hands visible;
- Avoid sudden movements;
- Ask the individuals to identify themselves and their agency;
- Do not physically resist;
- Do not provide false information or false documents;
- State clearly that you do not consent to a search;
- Ask whether you are being detained or whether you are free to leave;
- Ask to speak with an immigration attorney before signing documents; and
- Record the encounter when it is safe and lawful to do so.
Do not sign a voluntary departure, stipulated removal, waiver or other immigration document without first speaking with an attorney. Signing certain documents may give up your right to see an immigration judge or challenge your removal.
What Should Families Do Before an ICE Encounter?
Families with immigration concerns should prepare an emergency plan before an arrest occurs.
The plan should include:
- The person’s full name and A-number;
- Copies of immigration applications and notices;
- The telephone number of an immigration attorney;
- Contact information for a trusted family member;
- Instructions for children, pets and medical needs;
- Information about where important documents are stored; and
- A plan for obtaining medication, money and identification documents.
Family members should know that an ICE administrative warrant is not the same as a warrant signed by a federal judge. A document issued and signed only by ICE generally does not authorize officers to enter a private home without consent.
Do not open the door merely because officers say they have a warrant. Ask them to show the document through a window or slide it under the door so it can be reviewed.
The Investigations Are Still Ongoing
The full circumstances surrounding the Houston and Maine shootings have not yet been established.
DHS maintains that the officers acted in response to threats involving moving vehicles. Families, witnesses and elected officials have challenged portions of those accounts and requested independent investigations.
Because the officers were reportedly not wearing body cameras, investigators may have to rely heavily on surveillance recordings, witness testimony, physical evidence and internal ICE records.
The temporary suspension of vehicle stops suggests that ICE leadership recognizes the serious safety concerns surrounding these operations. However, it remains unclear how long the directive will remain in effect or what permanent changes ICE may adopt.
Contact Shepelsky Law Group
Immigration enforcement policies are changing rapidly. A temporary shift in ICE tactics does not mean that people with removal orders, pending immigration cases or unlawful status are safe from arrest. An experienced immigration attorney can evaluate your history, determine whether you may qualify for legal status and help your family prepare for a possible encounter with ICE.
Shepelsky Law Group represents clients in asylum cases, removal proceedings, immigration bonds, motions to reopen, family-based immigration, VAWA cases, waivers and other complex immigration matters.
Contact Shepelsky Law Group at (718) 769-6352 or visit www.ShepelskyLaw.com to schedule a consultation.
This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and enforcement policies may change, and each case must be evaluated individually.