U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ordered a temporary halt to most vehicle stops after two fatal shootings this month, one in Biddeford, Maine, on July 13, 2026, and an earlier incident in Houston, Texas. The pause was directed by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin following consultations with Senator Susan Collins and came as ICE announced additional training for officers.
The move mattered because both shootings involved individuals who were not the primary targets of the operations and raised public concern about use of force and the agency’s reliance on vehicle stops without judicial warrants. Officials framed the action as a safety and review measure while lawmakers and advocates pushed for independent investigations and broader policy changes.
Events that prompted the pause
On July 13, 2026, an ICE agent shot and killed 26-year-old Johan Sebastián Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, after a vehicle stop in an operation aimed at apprehending a separate individual with a final order of removal. Less than a week earlier, an ICE agent shot and killed 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston during a targeted vehicle stop. Both incidents involved people who were not the primary focus of the operations, prompting questions about the tactics used in routine vehicle stops and the circumstances that led to the use of deadly force.
Policy response and official statements
Senator Susan Collins urged action, writing exactly that: “While the investigation of the Biddeford shooting is not yet complete, it raises sufficient critical questions that I spoke with DHS Secretary Mullin last night and urged him to cease all non-urgent vehicle stops.” Homeland Security leadership directed the temporary pause, and a senior White House immigration official described the action as a review rather than a policy change, stating exactly, “It is not a policy change, it is a temporary pause.”
The Department of Homeland Security emphasized an ongoing evaluation of procedures. A DHS spokesperson said, “We are always evaluating our procedures to keep our officers safe and criminals off our streets.” ICE confirmed that vehicle stops will continue in cases involving serious criminal targets and when agents operate under established agreements with local law enforcement, including the 287(g) program.
Political reaction and calls for reform
Responses from lawmakers diverged sharply. Representative Christian Menefee said exactly, “A temporary training won’t solve a deeply ingrained problem,” and also stated, “ICE has been radicalized. Its agents have shot and killed unarmed people across the country. The agency needs to be torn down to the studs.” Some local officials and community groups in Biddeford and Houston organized protests and demanded independent investigations, highlighting concerns about transparency and accountability, including the absence of bodycamera footage in the incidents.
ICE will conduct additional training focused on vehicle-stop procedures while the temporary pause remains in effect; agency leadership said training aims to assess whether tactics or oversight could be improved. Tom Homan, a senior administration immigration official, posed the review questions directly: “Look – last couple of shootings, ICE leadership along with DHS wants to look at these last couple incidents and look, is there something that could have been done better? Is there any training that could be improved?” Latest update: July 15, 2026.
