ICE Makes Another Major Policy Change On Traffic Stops

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is making additional changes to the way its officers make vehicle stops, according to an internal agency memo obtained by The Daily Wire.

The agency is now directing all officers to receive specialized training in order to make vehicle stops, according to the memo, which was sent to all employees of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations on Wednesday. Officers who complete one of six additional training courses will be allowed to pull over vehicles. Those who fail to complete the courses will only be able to serve in a “support capacity” during vehicle stops.

The new instructions come after ICE officers were given short-lived verbal orders over the weekend to stop making arrests of illegal immigrants who don’t have criminal convictions or charges. It follows several recent ICE-involved shootings in which officers were attempting to make arrests during vehicle stops.

The memo also instructs ICE officers to let targets go if they refuse to pull over and not engage in car chases with them.

“Under no circumstances are ERO officers authorized to engage in vehicle pursuits or vehicle maneuvers for vehicles that fail to pull over,” the order states.

“Instead, as instructed in the Fugitive Operations Handbook, officers should obtain accurate vehicle information, including vehicle and occupant information, and direction of travel, for further investigation,” it adds.

The new directive addresses the use of tire deflation devices and vehicle pinning, or “using a vehicle or physical barrier to trap or stop a car,” according to the memo. The agency also limits such maneuvers to officers who have completed additional training courses.

The memo authorizes the use of such techniques “for the safety of the suspect vehicle and its occupants, the ICE officers engaged in vehicle stops, and other motorists on the roadway.”

The agency stated that ICE officers must have emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles before engaging in vehicle stops, while also wearing body cameras.

Last month, an ICE officer shot a Venezuelan illegal immigrant in Austin. The officer had been issued a body camera but was reportedly not wearing it at the time of the shooting.

The Department of Homeland Security previously halted all ICE traffic stops after two fatal shootings in Maine and Texas over the summer.

After President Donald Trump got word of the change, he quickly ordered the restoration of traffic stops.

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