WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2014\u00a0U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has temporarily ordered officers to avoid, in most cases, making vehicle stops in the wake of two deadly shootings.<\/p>\n
The tactical shift comes a day after an ICE officer shot and killed a Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine, and a week after an ICE officer fatally shot another man in Houston. Both men were driving at the time of the shootings, and the incidents have renewed criticism over the agency\u2019s immigration enforcement tactics. <\/p>\n
Multiple news outlets and a former federal immigration official said early Tuesday that the order allows for exceptions if officers are executing a criminal warrant and working with partner law enforcement agencies. The directive, later confirmed by a top official, is a temporary pause while ICE officers receive more training on vehicle stops. <\/p>\n
An ICE spokesperson said that the agency wouldn\u2019t discuss law enforcement tactics but that \u201cwe are always evaluating our procedures to keep our officers safe and criminals off our streets.\u201d <\/p>\n
But on Fox News on Tuesday afternoon, Tom Homan, a top White House immigration official, said the decision to halt most vehicle stops was made by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and top ICE leadership. But he emphasized that \u201cit\u2019s not a policy change, it\u2019s a temporary pause\u201d while officials review the incidents and decide whether training could be improved.<\/p>\n
Homan said the pause won\u2019t affect ICE arrests. He said officers could, in some instances, make an arrest before someone gets into their vehicle or after they arrive at their destination.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s going to be a short pause,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m confident that ICE is well trained in vehicle stops and you\u2019re going to see us keep moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reacting to ICE\u2019s policy change, Rep. Christian Menefee (D-Texas) said in a statement that training won\u2019t solve the agency\u2019s deeply ingrained issues. <\/p>\n
\u201cImmigration enforcement shouldn\u2019t be heavily militarized and chasing people through our streets,\u201d he said. \u201cThe American people deserve competent leadership and law enforcement that is transparent, accountable, and worthy of the public\u2019s trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she had urged Mullin to \u201ccease all non-urgent vehicle stops\u201d in the wake of the Biddeford shooting. <\/p>\n