The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has ordered its officers to largely suspend vehicle stops following two fatal shootings involving its agents in Maine and Texas within the past week, according to a source familiar with the new guidance. The directive affects officers under ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the division responsible for immigration arrests and deportations. Agents have been instructed to avoid initiating most traffic stops and instead use alternative enforcement methods or coordinate with partner agencies when dealing with criminal warrants

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has ordered its officers to largely suspend vehicle stops following two fatal shootings involving its agents in Maine and Texas within the past week, according to a source familiar with the new guidance.

The directive affects officers under ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the division responsible for immigration arrests and deportations. Agents have been instructed to avoid initiating most traffic stops and instead use alternative enforcement methods or coordinate with partner agencies when dealing with criminal warrants involving vehicles.

The move marks a major shift in ICE’s recent enforcement tactics, which have relied heavily on vehicle stops as part of immigration operations.

The decision comes after the fatal shooting of Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian man, in Biddeford, Maine. Authorities said an ICE officer opened fire after Guerrero allegedly attempted to flee in a vehicle, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stating that the officer acted out of concern for public safety.

However, the incident has sparked public outrage and calls for a deeper investigation. Community members and immigration advocates said Guerrero was authorized to work in the United States and had a Social Security number. Maine Senator Angus King also said Guerrero was not the target of the immigration operation.

The Maine shooting followed another deadly incident in Houston, Texas, where Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national, was fatally shot by an ICE officer during a traffic stop.

Both incidents have raised questions over the use of force by immigration officers and the lack of body-worn cameras during the encounters. Congressional lawmakers have called for hearings to examine the circumstances surrounding the shootings and ICE enforcement practices.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus announced plans to hold a field hearing in Houston to review the death of Salgado Araujo and hear testimony from witnesses.

ICE said in a statement that the agency is “always evaluating procedures to keep officers safe and criminals off the streets,” but declined to provide details about its enforcement strategy changes.

The suspension of most traffic stops comes amid growing national debate over immigration enforcement policies, balancing border security efforts with concerns over accountability, transparency and the protection of civil rights.

A little more informed. A little more connected.