Trump Approves Controversial ICE Traffic Checks Again After Deadly Shootings

The reversal followed sharp criticism from conservative hardliners over the suspension of the traffic checks. Trump had previously outlined his view of the country's security situation, emphasizing that crime in the US was sharply declining, „in vielen Fällen mit Zahlen, die man seit Jahrzehnten nicht gesehen hat". With this order, he has set aside concerns from within his own ranks, including Republican Senator Susan Collins, who had called for an end to the practice.

The Deadly Incidents in Maine and Houston

The controversy stems from two deadly shootings of drivers within six days of each other. On Monday, an ICE officer in the US state of Maine shot and killed a 25-year-old Colombian citizen in his car. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the man had entered the United States illegally; according to activists, however, he possessed a US work permit. The driver was not the actual target of the operation, it was further stated.

Six days before the incident in Maine, another ICE officer in Houston killed a Mexican citizen. In this case as well, the driver was reportedly not the actual target of the operation. Both deaths triggered protests. To date, authorities have not presented any evidence demonstrating that the two deceased posed a danger that would have justified the use of deadly force.

Background: ICE and Trump's Deportation Policy

The US Immigration Agency ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the country's interior and falls under the Department of Homeland Security. Its methods have long been controversial. The traffic checks are part of Trump's restrictive deportation policy; he took office in January 2025 and has since driven a wave of mass deportations.

Since Trump took office, at least seven people have been killed by gunfire during operations by the immigration agency. During the same period, a total of 53 people died in ICE custody. These statistics frame the debate, in which government officials, lawmakers, and activists take differing positions on the agency's role.

Political Reactions

The resumption of the traffic checks came after senior government officials had temporarily suspended the practice following the deadly shootings of the two drivers. Trump overruled those officials and ordered the practice to continue. In doing so, he gave the green light to one of the immigration agency's most controversial methods, even though the use of force in recent cases proved deadly.

Republican Susan Collins was among the politicians calling for an end to the ICE traffic checks. It was initially unclear what specific legal or administrative steps the senator or her colleagues intended to take next. The question of whether the families of the deceased will pursue legal action also remained open.