Trump says ICE should resume traffic stops after his own administration suspended them
Trump Directs ICE to Restart Traffic Stops Following Fatal Officer Shootings
Trump says ICE should resume traffic – President Donald Trump has instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to begin conducting traffic stops once again, reversing a temporary suspension implemented just one day earlier. This directive comes after two separate incidents involving federal officers resulted in the deaths of two men, sparking widespread calls for independent reviews of the agency’s practices.
The Trump administration had announced the pause on most ICE traffic operations on Tuesday. The decision followed the tragic deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. These incidents not only prompted demands for independent investigations but also renewed criticism regarding how the agency conducts its enforcement activities.
According to sources familiar with the matter, both individuals lost their lives during federal immigration enforcement operations. However, neither man was specifically identified as a target of those particular operations at the time they occurred.
A Brief Pause or Permanent Change?
Tom Homan, who serves as the nation’s border czar, described the modification to traffic stop procedures as merely a “short pause” rather than a fundamental shift in administration policy. He emphasized that ICE retains the ability to fulfill its duties through alternative methods during this interim period.
However, Trump expressed a different perspective when addressing the matter publicly. The President argued that traffic stops remain crucial for combating illegal immigration and stated he does not want the practice to cease entirely.
“We CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!”
Trump shared this message on social media on Wednesday morning, reinforcing his position that the tool should remain available to federal officers.
Investigations Underway in Multiple States
In Maine, local officials have requested a comprehensive and unbiased examination of the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The Maine Attorney General’s office is currently conducting an investigation in coordination with both local and federal authorities.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin informed Senator Susan Collins of Maine that the agency’s Office of Inspector General Boston field office has assumed responsibility for leading the investigation into the Maine incident.
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 simultaneously examining allegations that a federal law enforcement officer was assaulted during the incident.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare’s office has initiated its own separate investigation into the killing. Additionally, the Houston Police Department has requested that the Texas Department of Public Safety conduct an investigation, noting that such an arrangement “will ensure it is independent and transparent.”
Teare revealed on Monday that his office has issued nearly twenty subpoenas to gather evidence and witness testimony. He also noted that federal officials have not been sharing evidence with local investigators, creating potential complications for the inquiry.
Body Cameras and Additional Incidents
Following the shootings, the Department of Homeland Security committed to “rapidly” deploying body cameras to officers across the nation. This initiative aims to increase transparency and provide visual documentation of future encounters.
Amid these developments, another incident has come to light. Homeland Security Investigations, which operates as part of ICE, along with the Florida Highway Patrol, are investigating an event that occurred on Tuesday morning in St. Augustine. A Mexican national who was fleeing from federal agents was struck and killed by a tractor trailer during the pursuit.
This series of events has intensified scrutiny of DHS immigration tactics and raised questions about their legality. The multiple concurrent investigations across different jurisdictions reflect the complexity of addressing these incidents and ensuring accountability.
CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Kit Maher, Maria Santana, Carolina Peguero, Jason Carroll, and Sarah Boxer contributed to this report.
