This article was originally published on Crafting Your Home. A human contributor also wrote and edited the post.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement suspended most vehicle stops nationwide after agents fatally shot two drivers during separate enforcement operations within one week. The temporary order allows exceptions for criminal warrants and operations involving other law enforcement agencies.
The policy change followed the July 13 fatal shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has since demanded an independent investigation, triggering criticism from conservatives over her record on immigration during the Biden administration.
ICE changes vehicle-stop policy
The Trump administration issued the nationwide directive Tuesday after deadly encounters in Maine and Houston. Border czar Tom Homan described the suspension as temporary while federal officials review ICE’s vehicle-stop procedures.
The order does not fully prohibit officers from stopping vehicles. Agents may continue stops while serving criminal warrants or working with state, local, or federal partners.
The policy shift signals concern about the risks surrounding vehicle-based immigration operations. Such encounters can escalate quickly when agents use unmarked vehicles, approach armed, or block a driver’s path.
Shooting followed Biddeford surveillance.
Federal agents were watching an address linked to a person with a final order to leave the United States. They followed a vehicle that left the property and attempted to stop it. The Department of Homeland Security said the driver tried to flee. An officer opened fire after perceiving a threat to public safety.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Maine Sen. Angus King that Durán Guerrero had used his vehicle as a weapon. Federal officials later confirmed he was not the intended target of the immigration operation.
Investigators have not released a complete recording of the confrontation. Available footage shows Durán Guerrero’s white Kia moving through an intersection as officers ran nearby.
Harris demands accountability
Publicly available information does not establish exactly what the child saw. Neighbors and immigration advocates have said Durán Guerrero’s wife and daughter witnessed the immediate aftermath.
Others cited crimes committed by migrants living in the country illegally. Some referenced the 2024 killing of nursing student Laken Riley, whose death led Congress to pass legislation expanding mandatory detention for certain migrants accused of crimes.
Accounts remain under review.
A witness said he saw the Kia move toward an ICE officer before shots were fired. Another witness described hearing several rapid gunshots before agents removed Durán Guerrero from the vehicle. One nearby resident said the injured driver had tried to stop. Investigators have not publicly confirmed that account.
Federal deadly-force rules generally require an imminent threat of death or serious injury. Officers should not fire at a moving vehicle solely to prevent someone from escaping.
Missing body cameras limit evidence.
Body-camera footage could have documented the commands agents gave Durán Guerrero. It also might have shown when the vehicle began moving and where the officer stood before firing.
Family and community seek answers.
Immigration advocates said Durán Guerrero had permission to work in the United States and possessed a Social Security number. Work authorization does not necessarily establish permanent legal status, but it allows him to hold employment while in the country.
Protests began in Biddeford within hours of the shooting. Hundreds later gathered near an ICE facility in Scarborough and demanded greater transparency from federal authorities.
Investigations remain active
Investigators are collecting video footage, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing evidence from the vehicle and the intersection. Authorities have asked anyone with additional recordings or direct knowledge to contact law enforcement.
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