Trump says ICE should resume traffic stops after his own administration suspended them
Trump Directs ICE to Resume Traffic Stops Following Two Fatal Shootings
Policy Reversal After Federal Officer-Involved Deaths
Trump says ICE should resume traffic – President Donald Trump has called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to return to conducting traffic stops, reversing a temporary suspension implemented just one day earlier. The directive comes in response to two separate incidents involving fatal shootings by federal immigration officers, which occurred in Houston and Maine. Trump’s administration had initially ordered a pause on most ICE traffic stop activities on Tuesday, following public outcry and demands for independent investigations into the deaths of two men.
The two individuals killed were Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston and Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. According to sources familiar with the cases, neither man was the intended target of the federal immigration enforcement operations during which they were shot. These incidents have reignited broader criticism of the agency’s tactics and prompted calls for greater transparency in how federal officers conduct their duties.
Official Characterization and Public Response
Tom Homan, who serves as the nation’s border czar, described the suspension as a “short pause” rather than a fundamental shift in administration policy. He emphasized that ICE could continue fulfilling its mission through alternative methods during the interim period. However, Trump quickly moved to reverse course, arguing that traffic stops remain a critical component of efforts to combat illegal immigration.
“We CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!”
The president shared this message on social media on Wednesday morning, underscoring his commitment to maintaining the agency’s traditional enforcement strategies. In addition to the traffic stop policy adjustment, the Department of Homeland Security committed to rapidly deploying body cameras to officers across the country, aiming to improve accountability and documentation of encounters.
Investigations Underway in Maine and Texas
Local officials in Maine have requested a comprehensive and impartial examination of the circumstances surrounding Durán Guerrero’s death. The Maine Attorney General’s office is conducting an investigation in coordination with both local and federal authorities. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin informed Senator Susan Collins that the Office of Inspector General’s Boston field office has assumed responsibility for leading the inquiry.
Meanwhile, in Houston, the DHS Office of Inspector General is spearheading an investigation into the shooting of Salgado Araujo, according to ICE officials. The FBI’s Houston field office is separately examining allegations that a federal law enforcement officer was assaulted during the incident. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare has also initiated his own probe into the killing.
The Houston Police Department has requested that the Texas Department of Public Safety conduct an independent investigation, stating that such an arrangement “will ensure it is independent and transparent.” District Attorney Teare reported on Monday that his office has issued nearly twenty subpoenas to gather evidence and witness testimony. He noted that federal officials have not been sharing evidence with local investigators, creating potential complications for the inquiry.
Additional Incident in Florida
Amid the ongoing investigations in Maine and Texas, another incident has drawn attention. Homeland Security Investigations, which operates as part of ICE, along with the Florida Highway Patrol, is examining a Tuesday morning event in St. Augustine. A Mexican national who was fleeing from federal agents was struck and killed by a tractor trailer during the pursuit.
These developments highlight the complex landscape of federal immigration enforcement and the various layers of accountability being established following the recent tragedies. As investigations continue, stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions are working to ensure thorough examinations of each incident.
CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Kit Maher, Maria Santana, Carolina Peguero, Jason Carroll, and Sarah Boxer contributed to this report.
