President Trump slammed the brakes on an ICE retreat Wednesday, ordering immigration agents to resume vehicle stops just one day after the Department of Homeland Security suspended most of them nationwide.
Trump called the tactic indispensable to his deportation campaign and warned that abandoning it would hand an advantage to criminals.
“We CANNOT give up one of ICE’s most important and effective Crime fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!” Trump wrote on social media.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 15, 2026
The White House later confirmed to Fox News that Trump had overturned the pause.
The reversal capped a remarkable 24-hour policy whiplash inside the administration. ICE officers were told Tuesday to suspend most vehicle stops while the agency reviewed its tactics and prepared additional training following two fatal shootings in Texas and Maine.
Agents were still permitted to stop vehicles carrying the most serious targets, including individuals with violent or significant criminal histories, according to sources familiar with the guidance.
The wider suspension was expected to remain in place until Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin approved new training and agents in the field completed it.
Trump rejected that approach. He argued that restricting vehicle stops would be “playing right into the criminal’s hands” and accused Democrats of wanting to weaken immigration enforcement.
“The Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won’t happen on my watch,” Trump wrote.
He also addressed federal immigration officers directly.
“ICE, be judicious, fair and smart, and go back and do your very important job,” the president said.
Watch the clip below:
🚨 IT'S OFFICIAL: President Trump is telling ICE to RESUME vehicle stops of illegal aliens after a temporary pause
Great news!
"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… pic.twitter.com/20oKecQH8M
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 15, 2026
