Maine
Trump Defends Trump ICE Traffic Stops Following Temporary Pause
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to resume traffic stops Wednesday, reversing a one-day pause on the policy after officers killed two immigrants who were in their vehicles in Texas and Maine. In a post…
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Key points
- President Trump has directed ICE to resume traffic stops following a brief pause after two fatal shootings.
- The shootings have sparked calls for accountability and investigations from lawmakers.
- International leaders from Colombia and Mexico have condemned the actions taken by U.S. immigration officers.
WASHINGTON NewsWK — On Wednesday, President Donald Trump instructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to restart traffic stops, reversing a temporary halt that was put in place following two fatal shootings of immigrants by federal officers in Texas and Maine.
Scrutiny Mounts Over DHS Immigration Traffic Stops
In a social media post, Trump emphasized the importance of traffic stops as a key enforcement tool for ICE. This directive comes after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) paused vehicle-related enforcement after the deaths of 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston on July 7 and 25-year-old Johan Sebastián in Biddeford, Maine, on July 10. Both men were shot by immigration officers during traffic stops, despite not being the initial targets of the enforcement operation, according to DHS.
Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who is currently facing a competitive reelection campaign, called for ICE to halt all non-urgent traffic stops following the incident. Trump, however, stated that the Democrats support the pause, asserting, “The Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won’t happen on my watch.” He urged ICE to act judiciously and resume their important work.
Investigations Demanded After ICE Fatal Shootings
The recent shootings have led to increased scrutiny and calls for accountability among lawmakers. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has advocated for dismantling ICE, while Maine‘s congressional delegation has requested an expedited investigation by the DHS’s Office of Inspector General. They emphasized the need for timely answers to bring closure to the affected communities and to ensure that federal law enforcement operations are conducted lawfully and safely.
Internationally, the killings have sparked outrage. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned Sebastián’s death as a murder at the hands of the U.S. government, expressing expectations for a response from Trump. The Mexican government has also announced plans to file complaints with the Justice Department regarding the deaths of Mexican nationals during immigration enforcement actions.
Based on reporting by Ariana Figueroa originally published by Stateline. Read the original story.
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