ICE lifts pause on vehicle stops after Trump criticism
FBI investigators work the scene of an alleged ICE involved shooting in Biddeford, Maine, on July 13, 2026. A person was killed Monday in a shooting involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the northern US state of Maine, an official said. The incident comes after an ICE agent last week shot dead a Mexican man during an operation in Houston, Texas. Authorities alleged that he tried to run over a federal officer, a claim denied by witnesses. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lifted a temporary suspension on vehicle stops after President Donald Trump publicly defended the enforcement tactic, according to a White House official. The move comes just days after federal immigration officers fatally shot two people during separate vehicle-related encounters, prompting the agency to briefly halt most traffic stops.
Trump described traffic stops as one of ICE’s “most important and effective” crime-fighting tools in a social media post on Wednesday, arguing that officers should continue using the tactic as part of the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy. Shortly afterward, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the pause had been rescinded.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also voiced support for restoring the practice, saying he and the president want ICE officers to have every available option to safely carry out deportation operations targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
The reversal highlights the administration’s balancing act between fulfilling its pledge to increase deportations and addressing growing criticism over the consequences of aggressive enforcement actions. The debate intensified after two immigrants were fatally shot by ICE officers within six days, while a third person died Tuesday after being struck by a truck while fleeing immigration agents in Florida.
The administration had quietly paused most vehicle stops earlier this week following mounting public concern and pressure from lawmakers. Maine Senator Susan Collins, a Republican seeking reelection, urged DHS to suspend non-urgent traffic stops after a fatal ICE shooting in her state, saying the incident raised serious questions that require investigation.
The latest incidents have also fueled political debate ahead of the November midterm elections. Several Democratic candidates have renewed calls to abolish ICE or significantly reform the agency, arguing that recent enforcement actions demonstrate systemic problems. Republicans, meanwhile, have defended the agency and accused Democrats of adopting extreme immigration positions.
The White House maintains that its immigration agenda remains focused on public safety. DHS has said that roughly 70 percent of individuals deported have criminal records, although that figure has not been independently verified. The administration also continues to assert that all undocumented immigrants are subject to removal under federal law.
Immigration remains one of Trump’s strongest political issues despite broader declines in his overall approval ratings. Recent polling shows his approval on immigration has improved since earlier this year, even as controversy surrounding ICE operations continues to generate national debate over the future of U.S. immigration enforcement.
