U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been instructed to cease conducting most vehicle stops nationwide, according to multiple federal sources. This significant policy shift, effective immediately, directs ICE agents to halt traffic stops with the exception of cases involving individuals with serious or violent criminal histories.
The change in enforcement tactics follows two recent deaths resulting from ICE officer-involved shootings in Maine and Texas. The agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) has historically utilized traffic stops as a notable component of its operations.
Federal law enforcement officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) conduct a traffic stop and detain people on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)