Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a nationwide order to all officers to stop pursuing individuals in vehicles, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official and two former senior DHS officials. The temporary pause follows the fatal shootings of two men by ICE officers in Maine and Texas in less than a week.
DHS Internal Review of Fatal Shootings in Maine and Texas
According to local officials, the officers involved in both incidents were performing vehicle stops when they killed men who were not their original targets for arrest. A senior DHS official with knowledge of the policy change stated that the agency is currently evaluating the incidents to determine what additional training is required to reduce negative outcomes. There is no established timeline for when the pause on non-emergency traffic stops might be lifted.
Senator Susan Collins Coordinates with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who has been in contact with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin regarding the incidents, stated she discussed the necessity of the halt with the Secretary. “In the third conversation, we discussed the fact that it would be wise for DHS to have a halt in non-urgent traffic stops until we get this straightened out,” Collins told reporters.
Senator Angus King Criticizes Lack of Body Cameras in Maine
The shootings have drawn criticism from lawmakers, including Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who expressed disappointment that the agent involved in the Maine incident was not wearing a body camera. King suggested that pressure on ICE agents to meet arrest quotas has contributed to such shootings. While Collins secured $20 million in funding for body cameras for federal immigration officers earlier this year, those cameras were not in use during the recent shooting in Maine.
Sources told NBC News that the shootings occurred after the administration increased pressure on immigration agents to intensify arrest efforts. An ICE spokesperson declined to comment on the agency’s tactics or the recent calls with Senator Collins.
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