Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were told to largely suspend vehicle stops until further notice, only to have the directive changed again at the direction of President Donald Trump. The initial halt came after two fatal shootings by ICE agents during traffic stops, one in Houston and one in Biddeford, Maine.

Background

The Trump administration has been under pressure to curb shootings by ICE agents, with 10 incidents of agency-involved firearm discharges in 2026. The administration has also faced criticism for its immigration enforcement policies, including the use of traffic stops to apprehend illegal immigrants.

Former ICE acting director John Sandweg said that the use of traffic stops to apprehend illegal immigrants has become more common, but has not been accompanied by an increase in training for agents on how to conduct these stops safely. Sandweg also noted that the use of traffic stops has been frustrated by community organizers who inform immigrants of their legal rights and warn them when federal agents are nearby.

Training and Use of Force

ICE is instituting additional training for agents, including training on crowd control, high-risk vehicle stops, and medical training. The agency has also extended its training program to 71 days, which will apply to all new training classes beginning July 1.

The use of force policy for ICE agents allows for the use of deadly force only when the agent has a reasonable belief that the subject poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the agent or another person. However, the policy has been criticized for being too vague, and some have called for more clarity on when deadly force is justified.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.