ICE has issued new internal guidance restricting high-speed vehicle pursuits and imposing additional requirements for traffic stops, according to an Associated Press report. The memo prohibits officers from chasing vehicles that refuse to pull over, directing them instead to record license plate information for later investigation. The policy also mandates that only officers with specific training in pursuit tactics or spike strip deployment may initiate such operations.
New Pursuit Restrictions
The guidance explicitly forbids ICE from engaging in high-speed chases when a vehicle does not comply with a stop order. Officers are instructed to document the vehicle’s details and pursue further investigation through other means. This change follows incidents where immigration enforcement actions led to public safety risks. The memo requires all participating officers to use body cameras, though compliance with that requirement has been inconsistent historically.
Additionally, the policy specifies that marked ICE vehicles conducting stops must display functional lights and sirens to clearly identify them as law enforcement. Only officers who have completed designated training courses are authorized to initiate traffic stops. Other personnel may assist but are prohibited from driving involved vehicles or using restricted tactics like vehicle pinning or spike strips without proper certification.
Context of Recent Incidents
The new restrictions come after several fatal encounters. In July, ICE temporarily suspended traffic stops following the deaths of Lorenzo Sagrado Araujo in Houston and Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine—both individuals not suspected of immigration violations. President Donald Trump later overturned the suspension, allowing enforcement actions to resume. The policy update was issued in response to the September 20 shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, who was killed while sitting in his vehicle during a traffic stop. The memo emphasizes that routine immigration enforcement should not involve extreme risks to the public.
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It notes that pursuing individuals who have not committed violent crimes is not justified, even if they violate immigration laws.
ICE’s Response to the Policy
An ICE spokesperson told CNN the guidance does not constitute a new policy but rather a reminder of existing procedures. The spokesperson stated that vehicle stops will continue as normal and that the memo maintains current operational standards. This response echoes past patterns of inconsistent compliance with ICE directives, including earlier orders to use body cameras, which have been sporadically enforced in practice.
The department’s assertion that the memo represents routine guidance rather than substantive change suggests that enforcement practices may remain largely unchanged.
Critics Question Training Requirements and Compliance
This partial training may inadequately prepare them for high-risk scenarios.
