The policy shift, described as temporary, comes amid growing scrutiny of ICE’s use of force and enforcement tactics.
Suspension of Vehicle Stops
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has paused most vehicle stops after two deadly shootings in less than a week, according to officials familiar with the decision. The policy change, announced Tuesday, allows exceptions for executing criminal warrants or collaborating with partner agencies. A person with knowledge of the matter told AP News that the suspension is temporary, pending additional training for officers.
The suspension followed the fatal shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian national, in Biddeford, Maine, on July 14, 2026. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an ICE officer fired at the vehicle after it attempted to flee, citing fearing for public safety. The officer’s actions were later described by Maine Sen. Angus King as an attempt to use the vehicle as a weapon, though DHS clarified the officers were trying to serve an arrest warrant, but not for the man who was shot.
Public Outcry and Protests
Hundreds of people protested outside an ICE facility in Scarborough on July 14, condemning the shooting and demanding accountability. Organizer Todd Chretien told the crowd, “These people are killers and they must leave our state now.” AP News noted that protesters gathered near a makeshift memorial for Guerrero, who was described by Colombian President Gustavo Petro as a targeted killing at the hands of the U.S. government.
Outrage extended beyond Maine. The BBC reported that immigration advocates called Guerrero’s death devastating, enraging, and unacceptable, citing his authorization to work in the US and social security number. A third fatality occurred in Florida, where a 28-year-old man was killed after he was hit by a tractor trailer while running from immigration and other federal officers.
Official Responses and Policy Shifts
Maine Sen. Susan Collins urged DHS to halt non-urgent vehicle stops, writing, “I spoke with DHS Secretary Mullin last night and urged him to cease all non-urgent vehicle stops.” The department, however, declined to disclose details about the shooting, stating it would not disclose or discuss law enforcement tactics.
ICE’s new guidance instructs officers to prioritize alternative operational methods. A senior ICE official said vehicle stops would be paused “immediately,” with training on tactics to follow. The Guardian reported that the suspension would be temporary until ICE officers receive “new training” on vehicle stops.
Training and Future Measures
The policy shift has drawn scrutiny over ICE’s use of deadly force. Paul Hunker, former chief counsel of ICE in Dallas, said that officers must face an “imminent threat of harm” to justify lethal force. DHS policy states that deadly force cannot be used solely to prevent someone from fleeing.
Civil liberties groups and lawmakers have called for independent investigations into the shootings. AP News noted that no body cameras were worn by agents in the Maine or Houston incidents, raising questions about transparency. The BBC and NPR both highlighted the lack of video evidence to corroborate DHS’s account of the Maine shooting.
Ongoing Investigations and Uncertainties
The Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed the exact circumstances of the Maine shooting, leaving gaps in the public record. AP News reported that DHS officials declined to comment further, while Reuters sources cited by CNBC reported the suspension was tied to the two fatal shootings.
The number of people shot dead during immigration enforcement operations since January 2025 reached at least seven after the Maine and Houston killings. The suspension’s duration and scope remain unclear, with officials emphasizing its temporary nature.
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