President Trump doubled down on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of traffic stops after the Department of Homeland Security announced its agents would temporarily halt them following recent fatal shootings in Maine and Texas.
Mr. Trump wrote early Wednesday on Truth Social that ICE is “doing a GREAT job, one that has to be done.”
He continued, “CRIME IS WAY DOWN IN AMERICA, in many cases with numbers that haven’t been seen in decades. The Open Border Policy of Sleepy Joe Biden allowed 25,000,000 people to pour into our Country, unchecked and unvetted.”
Mr. Trump said, “Many were Criminals, and we have to get them out. In order to do this, we must be strong, tough, and smart, and we CANNOT give up one of ICE’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!”
The president warned that if ICE no longer does traffic stops, it will be “playing right into the criminal’s hands,” adding that the “Radical Dumocrats” want to see this, but that it “won’t happen” on his watch.
“ICE, 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,” he said.
Border czar Tom Homan described the pause as “temporary.”
“I wouldn’t even call this a bump in the road — this is going to be a short-term review, so ICE feels comfortable that their agents are safe, they’re doing the right thing and get back to doing what they do best,” he told Fox News on Tuesday.
ICE has reportedly issued a new policy ordering officers not to engage in traffic stops, excluding exceptional circumstances, acting after a second man was shot and killed this month during a vehicle incident.
The shift was described as a temporary measure while ICE reviews its policies and training.
ICE declined to comment on the change, saying it wouldn’t “discuss law enforcement tactics.”
“We are always evaluating our procedures to keep our officers safe and criminals off our streets,” the agency said.
A man was killed in Houston last week during a vehicle incident, and another was killed in Maine on Monday after ICE said the driver “attempted to flee the scene” in the vehicle.
An officer, “fearing for public safety,” opened fire and killed the man, ICE said.
• Stephen Dinan contributed to this report.
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