President Trump started his Wednesday morning by hopping onto Truth Social with a rather direct message for the folks at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): he'd really like to see those traffic stops resume. The president argued that traffic stops are one of ICE's most "important and effective" tools to apprehend violent illegal aliens, and surrendering that tool would be "playing right into the criminal’s hands."
As RedState's Ward Clark reported on Tuesday, a directive went out instructing agents to halt all vehicle stops, except those targeting known criminal illegal aliens. Fox News' Bill Melugin offered more details on the surprising move:
This comes after two people were killed by ICE in shootings in TX and ME in the last week in incidents that began as vehicle stops. DHS alleges one of those incidents was a ramming attempt.
I’m told this will be temporary until ICE officers receive new training on vehicle stops.
The policy change will have significant impacts as many of ICE’s arrests begin as vehicle stops when they find and follow a target, as we’ve witnessed on multiple embeds.
The two deadly traffic stops that preceded the ICE directive involved men, one an illegal from Mexico and the other a Colombian national, who drove their cars at agents during lawful traffic stops. Both men would likely still be alive had they cooperated, and both incidents are under investigation.
READ MORE: New ICE Policy Pauses Most Traffic Stops Nationwide
ICE: Illegal Immigrant Shot After Allegedly Trying to Run Over Officer in Houston
In his Wednesday post, the president had words of praise for ICE agents, saying they are "doing a GREAT job" getting illegal aliens off our streets. He also noted the "Radical Left Dumocrats" would like nothing more than to see that momentum slowed or stopped altogether.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 15, 2026
The men and women of ICE are doing a GREAT job, one that has to be done. 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. 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 I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP! Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal’s hands. The Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won’t happen on my watch. I.C.E., 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
It is still unclear who gave the order to cease the traffic stops, but some have speculated it originated with Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. If that is indeed the case, then President Trump's post is likely a not-so-subtle indication that those tasked with carrying out his immigration agenda aren't currently hitting the mark.
(And you know the president means business – and that you'd best pay attention – when he gives you the "Thank you for your attention to this matter!" sign off.)
No matter who gave the order, it's the bad guys who win if an effective apprehension tool is disrupted or discontinued – and the American people who lose. Democrats, of course, want nothing more than our communities filled with illegal aliens because some of those illegals cause the chaos Democrats crave while others will be groomed to become Democrat voters.
Editor’s Note: ICE and CBP continue to put themselves in harm's way in order to protect America’s sovereignty and to keep our streets safe.
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