ICE Bans High‑Speed Chases, Tightens Traffic‑Stop Rules
ICE has banned high‑speed car chases and imposed stricter traffic‑stop protocols. A memo signed by executive associate director Marcos D. Charles on Wednesday orders officers to forgo any pursuit and to record vehicle data instead.
The guidance, obtained by The Associated Press, bars ICE from chasing vehicles that fail to pull over under any circumstances. Agents must note license plates, make, and model for later investigation.
Officers who have not completed the required training may only assist as passengers, according to NBC News. All other stops require lights and sirens, and body‑camera activation.
Since last year, ICE agents have discharged firearms in more than a dozen traffic‑stop encounters, killing at least four people and wounding several others. The incidents follow a pattern of drivers refusing to cooperate or attempting to flee.
After fatal shootings in Houston and Biddeford, Maine, in July, ICE temporarily paused vehicle stops, but President Donald Trump reversed the order on Truth Social, calling the traffic stop “one of ICE’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools.”
The White House has pressured ICE to increase deportations, contributing to record arrest numbers despite a rapid hiring spree that left many officers poorly vetted and trained. Agency officials say the new memo aims to balance safety with enforcement effectiveness.
ICE issued a statement downplaying the memo, saying it merely reinforces prior directives from earlier this year, last year and in 2018. The agency emphasized that vehicle stops and arrests of illegal aliens continue.
The guidance also mandates that officers turn on lights and sirens to identify themselves and wear activated body cameras during every encounter. These measures are intended to protect both officers and the public.
The memo, dated Wednesday and signed by Marcos D. Charles, makes clear that any vehicle chase is prohibited regardless of the reason. Officers must document the vehicle’s details and refer the case to supervisors for further action.
