U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ordered a nationwide halt to most vehicle stops following two fatal shootings by its agents in Texas and Maine within a week, according to multiple reports. The suspension applies to all circumstances except those involving serious criminal targets, marking a major tactical shift for the agency amid growing scrutiny over its use of force. White House border czar Tom Homan described the move as a temporary pause, not a policy change, and said deportations will continue. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on operational tactics but said it is always evaluating procedures to keep officers and the public safe.

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ICE agents have been instructed to cease most vehicle stops nationwide effective immediately, following two deadly shootings in Texas and Maine. The directive, reported by multiple outlets citing unnamed law enforcement sources, allows exceptions only for cases involving serious criminal targets. White House border czar Tom Homan characterized the move as a short-term pause to review procedures, telling Fox News that agents already have extensive vehicle-stop training and that the pause would be brief. A DHS spokesperson declined to comment on tactics but stated the agency is always evaluating procedures to keep officers and the public safe.

The first shooting occurred on July 7 in Houston, where an ICE agent fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant who had lived in the U.S. for over three decades. DHS claimed Salgado Araujo weaponized his van during a traffic stop, but his family disputed that account, describing him as a loving father. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told CBS News that his office has issued dozens of subpoenas and is prepared to file criminal charges if evidence warrants. Teare said ICE's tactics in no way resemble the behavior of police agencies he has worked with, and that the community deserves an independent, transparent investigation. The FBI is investigating the incident as a potential assault on a federal agent, while the DHS Office of Inspector General is also conducting a probe.

Less than a week later, on July 13, an ICE officer fatally shot 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a Colombian national, in Biddeford, Maine. A home security camera captured the sound of five gunshots at 7:17 a.m., followed by video showing Guerrero's sedan slowing down and turning in circles before an agent in a white SUV pinned the car. Witness Daniel Boucher told CBS News he heard an agent say he tried to stop, and described the scene as horrific. Guerrero, a married father with a young daughter who worked as a delivery driver, died at the scene. DHS stated ICE agents were conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien with a final order of removal, but law enforcement sources confirmed Guerrero was not the target. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine said she had heard on good authority that agents may have shot the wrong person.

On July 14, a third incident occurred in St. Augustine, Florida, where a man was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer after fleeing from Homeland Security Investigations and ICE officers at a Wawa gas station, according to The Hill.

Why It Matters

The suspension of vehicle stops represents a significant operational change for ICE, which has faced mounting criticism over its use of force. During President Trump's second term, at least 11 people have been shot and killed by federal immigration officers, according to CBS News. The incidents have raised questions about training, oversight, and the agency's tactics, particularly as ICE has been operating without body cameras in many cases. The Maine shooting involved agents who were not wearing body cameras, according to officials cited by PBS NewsHour.

Political Context

The shootings have quickly become a political flashpoint. In Maine, Democrats are seizing on the incident to target Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is up for reelection in a race seen as critical for Senate control. The shooting occurred just days after the Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, quit the race following a sexual assault allegation, leaving the party scrambling to select a replacement at a July 25 convention. Several would-be challengers have criticized Collins over her record on immigration, according to PBS NewsHour and The New York Times.

Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine has called for a full investigation, telling PBS NewsHour that the federal government lacks credibility and that local authorities need a role in the probe. He noted that agents lacked body cameras and that the victim was not the target of the operation. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told BBC News that he fears more incidents will occur due to what he called quotas at ICE for deportations and arrests, and that simply adjusting things is not enough.

What Officials and Groups Are Saying

Harris County DA Sean Teare told CBS News that his office is more than prepared to file criminal charges against federal agents if evidence of wrongdoing is found, and that no one can come into the community, take someone's life, and hide behind a badge. White House border czar Tom Homan, speaking to Fox News, defended the pause as a necessary review of training and safety, noting that vehicle attacks are up 3,400 percent. He expressed confidence that agents would return to vehicle stops soon.

Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition and Presente! Maine issued a joint statement calling Guerrero's death tragic, according to BBC News. Immigration advocates noted that Guerrero was authorized to work in the U.S. and had a social security number.

Timeline

  • July 7, 2026: ICE agent fatally shoots Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas. Harris County DA launches investigation.
  • July 13, 2026: ICE agent fatally shoots Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. Security video captures five gunshots.
  • July 14, 2026: ICE suspends most vehicle stops nationwide. A third man dies in Florida after fleeing ICE agents.
  • July 14, 2026: Sen. Angus King calls for local role in investigation. Sen. Dick Durbin criticizes ICE quotas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did ICE suspend vehicle stops?

ICE ordered a halt to most vehicle stops after two fatal shootings by its agents in Texas and Maine within a week, according to BBC News. The suspension is intended as a temporary pause to review procedures.

What happened in the Houston shooting?

On July 7, an ICE agent fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during a traffic stop. Harris County DA Sean Teare is investigating and has said he is prepared to bring charges if wrongdoing is found, per CBS News.

What happened in the Maine shooting?

On July 13, an ICE agent fatally shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. Security video captured five gunshots. Guerrero was not the target of ICE's surveillance, according to law enforcement sources cited by CBS News.

How many fatal ICE shootings have occurred under Trump?

At least 11 people have been shot and killed by federal immigration officers during President Trump's second term, according to CBS News.

What is the political fallout?

Maine Democrats are using the shooting to target Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a key Senate race. Independent Sen. Angus King has called for local involvement in the investigation, per PBS NewsHour.

What Happens Next

The suspension of vehicle stops is expected to be brief, according to White House border czar Tom Homan, but the investigations into the two fatal shootings could have lasting implications for ICE operations. The Harris County DA's probe may lead to criminal charges against federal agents, a rare step that could further strain federal-local relations. In Maine, the political fallout continues to unfold as Democrats seek to capitalize on the incident in the Senate race. Meanwhile, the DHS Office of Inspector General and the FBI are conducting their own reviews. The coming weeks will determine whether the pause becomes a permanent policy shift or a temporary measure, and whether additional reforms are implemented to address the rising number of deadly encounters involving immigration enforcement.