ICE Issues New Limits on Officer-Led Vehicle Stops

Internal directives obtained by multiple outlets require that only Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers who have completed one of six agency-approved training courses may lead “traditional” or “high-risk” vehicle stops. Officers without the training may assist but cannot be the primary stop officer. The memo, signed by Marcos Charles, head of the ERO division, also mandates that every officer on scene wear an agency-issued, activated body-worn camera and that the vehicles used for stops be equipped with lights and sirens—features not previously standard on ICE cars. Under the same guidance, ICE agents are prohibited from engaging in vehicle pursuits when a target fails to pull over; instead, they must collect identifying information for later investigation. The policy is described as effective immediately.

ICE imposes new training requirements for officers conducting vehicle stops CNNICE sets limits on which officers can stop vehicles

The guidance follows a series of high-profile vehicle-stop incidents that resulted in fatalities and injuries. In July, two immigrants—Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine—were fatally shot by ICE officers during separate stops. Earlier this summer, a Venezuelan DoorDash driver was shot and wounded in Austin, Texas, and a U.S. citizen, Renee Good, was fatally shot while protesting ICE officers in Minneapolis. These events prompted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to temporarily suspend most ICE vehicle stops; President Donald Trump later reversed that pause, according to sources.

CNNICE sets limits on which officers can stop vehicles ICE imposes new training requirements for officers conducting vehicle stops

DHS officials have framed the new requirements as a safety measure for both officers and the public, emphasizing the need for trained personnel, visible emergency equipment, and body-camera documentation. The memo instructs field directors to ensure compliance with the training and equipment standards. No comment was received from DHS at the time of reporting.

ICE imposes new training requirements for officers conducting vehicle stops

By restricting stop authority to trained officers and adding visibility and recording requirements, the policy aims to reduce the likelihood of confrontations escalating into shootings. The prohibition on pursuits also seeks to limit high-speed chases that have previously ended in crashes and fatalities. Observers note that the changes could affect ICE’s ability to conduct rapid immigration enforcement actions, potentially altering the agency’s operational tempo.

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The guidance is already in force, and ICE field directors are tasked with verifying that all officers and vehicles meet the new standards. No further policy adjustments or scheduled reviews have been announced.

ICE imposes new training requirements for officers conducting vehicle stops