White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 16, 2026.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Thursday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will continue their practice of vehicle stops. This statement followed reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intended to halt these stops after the fatal shootings of two immigrants by ICE agents earlier in July. Senator Angus King’s office had confirmed to NPR that DHS was considering the policy change.
However, the continuation of vehicle stops was soon affirmed by President Trump through a Truth Social post, stating, “We CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP! Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal’s hands.”
Leavitt reiterated the administration’s stance during a press briefing on Thursday, emphasizing, “Vehicle stops are continuing. Verbal guidance has been given to all field offices across the country by the Department of Homeland Security.” She further stated that both the president and the Secretary of Homeland Security agree that vehicle stops are essential for ICE agents to continue their efforts against illegal alien criminals.
NPR contacted DHS for further details on the policy but was referred back to the White House’s comments.
Last week, in Houston, ICE agents shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant, after attempting to stop him. DHS claims he used his van as a weapon, prompting an agent to fire, although passengers in the van have contested this account.
In another incident in Maine, ICE agents tried to stop Joan Durán Guerrero, a Colombian national, who was shot and killed by an agent. DHS reported that Guerrero attempted to flee, and an officer discharged his weapon fearing for public safety. However, no evidence has been provided to support this claim.
On Tuesday, a man was fatally hit by a tractor-trailer while fleeing from an ICE vehicle stop in St. Augustine, Florida, according to Florida Highway Patrol. The patrol did not immediately respond to inquiries for additional information regarding the incident.
