ICE Updates Vehicle Stop Protocols Amid Safety Concerns
ICE implements new safety measures for vehicle stops, including specialized training and restrictions on pursuits.
2 min read
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has introduced new guidelines for its officers conducting vehicle stops, emphasizing safety and procedural clarity. The changes, outlined in an internal memo obtained by The Daily Wire, require officers to undergo specialized training to conduct stops and limit certain high-risk maneuvers.
New Training and Operational Guidelines
The memo, sent to all employees of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, mandates that officers complete one of six additional training courses to be authorized 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 updated directives come in response to recent incidents involving ICE officers during vehicle stops, including several shootings. The memo instructs officers to let targets go if they refuse to pull over and not engage in car chases. It explicitly states that officers are not authorized to engage in vehicle pursuits or maneuvers for vehicles that fail to pull over.
Additionally, the memo addresses the use of tire deflation devices and vehicle pinning, a technique that involves using a vehicle or physical barrier to trap or stop a car. The agency limits these maneuvers to officers who have completed additional training courses, authorizing their use for the safety of all parties involved.
Equipment and Compliance Requirements
Officers are required to have emergency lights and sirens on their vehicles before engaging in vehicle stops and must also wear body cameras. The agency highlighted the importance of these measures to ensure transparency and accountability, especially after incidents such as the shooting of a Venezuelan illegal immigrant in Austin, where the officer was reportedly not wearing a body camera at the time.
These changes follow a broader policy shift from the Department of Homeland Security, which previously halted all ICE traffic stops after two fatal shootings in Maine and Texas. The policy was later reversed by President Donald Trump, who ordered the restoration of traffic stops following the new ICE guidelines.
Source: Daily Wire
