Trump Wants ICE to Keep Stopping Cars Amid Deadly Shootings

What Is Happening? (The Big Picture)

Imagine a group of people whose job is to catch folks who are in a country without permission. In the United States, that group is called ICE (which stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement — say it like "eye-see-ee"). ICE agents have been stopping cars on the road to find and arrest people.

But lately, things turned very sad:

• In just one week, three people died after meeting ICE agents.
• Because of this, some leaders said, "Let’s pause most car stops for now."
• Then President Donald Trump said, "No! Keep stopping cars — it’s one of our best tools."

Important: President Trump said stopping cars is "one of the most important and effective tools" ICE has to fight crime, and ending it would be "playing into the hands of criminals."

The Photos From the Ground

A photo series from Biddeford, Maine (taken July 15, 2026, by Robert F. Bukaty for AP) shows:

• Angeliki Cintron and Saidi Moseley putting up a notice about a rally in response to recent killings by ICE.
• A portrait of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero (a Colombian man killed by ICE) surrounded by flowers and a sign reading "We are better than this."
• Two attendees hugging at a vigil after a man was shot and killed by ICE on July 13, 2026.

Trump and the Government’s Response

Here is what key people said, step by step:

1. Tuesday: After a death in Maine, Trump officials told ICE agents to suspend most vehicle stops.
2. Wednesday: Trump posted on his social network (Truth Social) that ICE must keep doing traffic stops.
3. Later Wednesday: The Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, said people in the country illegally will be "arrested and deported wherever they are found" and that he and Trump "are on the same page."
4. Trump also told ICE to be "prudent, fair, and smart, and get back to doing your very important job."

Important: It is NOT clear if ICE will quickly reverse course and restart most car stops. These stops have been a key tool in Trump’s immigration push.

Why the Car Stops Are Controversial

A repeating story has happened many times:

• Federal agents face a driver, then shoot, saying the car was a danger.
• Experts have warned for decades that shooting at moving cars is dangerous and should almost always be avoided.

Sad facts:

• At least 10 deaths are tied to encounters with immigration agents since Trump’s deportation campaign began.
• At least 4 of those deaths involved people in vehicles.
• Republican Senator Susan Collins urged leaders to "stop all non-urgent vehicle stops" and said two shootings in a week raise "very serious questions."

ICE says the people they seek are staying home more, and they blame immigrant advocates who tell people to stay inside unless ICE shows a judge-signed warrant. Agents say that forces them to find other arrest methods — like car stops.

The Maine Shooting: Who Was Johan?

More protests are planned after hundreds gathered Tuesday to remember Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian shot in his car on Monday.

• His partner, Karolina Rojas (mother of his young daughter), shared a smiling family photo on Instagram.
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said he entered the U.S. illegally on Sept 1, 2023 through the southern border, but activists noted he had work authorization when killed.
• Independent Senator Angus King said the DHS secretary told him ICE was in Biddeford to serve an arrest warrant — but not for the man shot.
• DHS says the car tried to flee and "an agent fired his weapon" fearing public safety.
• Bullet holes were seen in the windshield, but agents had no body cameras, leaving many questions.
• DHS did not answer questions about the shooting agent.

The Texas Shooting: What We Know

In Houston, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo (a Mexican man) was killed on July 7.

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott (a Trump ally) said the state’s main police unit will investigate.
• Three passengers dispute the DHS version of the shooting.
• A public funeral is set for Thursday in Houston.
• New court records show the FBI is investigating if drugs were in the truck. An FBI agent saw 4 plastic bags of white substance looking like methamphetamine.
• The DHS has not said drugs were the reason for the stop.
• The ACLU of Texas (legal help for the family) says the federal government "lacks credibility" to investigate itself.

Reactions From Leaders

• Colombia’s outgoing President Gustavo Petro called the Maine shooting a "selective murder by the U.S. government."
• Border czar Tom Homan said the investigation must proceed and agents must be accountable if they acted wrongly.
• Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills said ICE should be dismantled as a federal agency if its failures can’t be fixed, and needs changes "before more families are deprived of a loved one."

Important: This story was translated from English by an AP editor with help from a generative AI tool. Reporters from many U.S. and international cities contributed.

Summary

To wrap it up like a simple story:

• ICE has been stopping cars to arrest people without papers.
• Three deaths in one week sparked outrage.
• Trump wants car stops to continue; some officials paused them.
• Two specific deaths (Maine and Texas) are under review, with conflicting stories and missing video.
• Leaders disagree strongly, from "keep stopping" to "shut down ICE."

FAQ

1. What does ICE stand for?
ICE means Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the U.S. agency that enforces immigration and customs laws.

2. Why did Trump say car stops should continue?
He called them a key tool to fight crime and said stopping them helps criminals escape.

3. Why are people worried about ICE car stops?
Because shooting at moving cars is risky, and at least 4 of 10 recent deaths involved vehicles, with two shootings in one week.

4. Was the Maine man legally allowed to work?
Activists say yes — Durán Guerrero had work authorization at the time he was shot, though DHS says he entered illegally in 2023.

5. Who is looking into the Texas case?
The Texas state police will investigate, while the FBI checks if drugs were in the vehicle; the family’s lawyers say the feds shouldn’t investigate themselves.