President Donald Trump suspended a nationwide halt on non-urgent traffic stops by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday, overturning a directive announced by the Department of Homeland Security just one day earlier.
The move marks a direct clash between Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella had ordered the pause after two deadly shootings of drivers during immigration enforcement operations within a week. The latest incident occurred Monday in Biddeford, Maine, where an ICE officer killed Johan Sebastian Guerrero, 25, from Colombia. In both cases, officials said the victims were not the intended targets of the enforcement operation.
Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday morning that traffic stops are ICE's most effective crime-fighting tool. "We must be strong, tough, and smart, and we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.'s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!" he wrote. "Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal's hands."
The President instructed the agency to resume operations: "I.C.E. be judicious, fair and smart, and go back and do your very important job. Keep those Crime Stat Records coming! Remember, you are loved and respected in America."
A White House official told NewsNation that no formal policy change had been made regarding traffic stops, but an internal memo had been sent to ICE field directors by DHS.
Mullin had characterized the halt as temporary, predicting a return to normal operations within a few weeks. The initial directive allowed exceptions for ICE participation in traffic stops involving other law enforcement agencies or when an active warrant was present.
The reversal signals growing tension between Trump and Mullin over immigration enforcement strategy. Sources familiar with the situation said the White House was displeased with Mullin's decision to restrict ICE operations following the shootings.
The internal friction extends to Trump's stalled nomination of Schroyer to lead ICE. Schroyer, a senior DHS adviser and longtime Mullin associate, was nominated in June. A DHS official told Politico there was no sense the nomination was progressing. The White House said Schroyer remains the president's nominee and that "congressional scheduling should not be interpreted as any personnel announcements."
On Capitol Hill, Republican lawmakers backed ICE's authority. Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tenn. told NewsNation that traffic stops are a vital law enforcement tool. "ICE and all law enforcement need to have the ability to make these traffic stops because they are in fact catching and apprehending bad people, some who want to do bad things, some who are here unlawfully and truly need to be removed," Kustoff said.
