On Wednesday, July 15th, 2026, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin refrained from confirming whether immigration agents would stop conducting traffic stops, despite President Donald Trump's call to continue these operations. Instead, Mullin criticized Democrats, accusing them of helping the public "defy" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Earlier that day, Trump stated the country "CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools" in response to reports that ICE planned to temporarily halt traffic stops. ICE itself did not directly confirm any change in the practice as of Tuesday.

Mullin emphasized that ICE remains active in enforcement, writing on the social platform X: "Our #1 goal is to keep our officers safe and get criminals OFF our streets. Illegal aliens will be arrested and deported wherever they are. As our officers carry out operations to enforce our nations laws. We remind illegal aliens attempting to evade arrest is dangerous."

Though Mullin did not explicitly mention recent incidents, his remarks indirectly acknowledged two fatal shootings involving ICE officers and migrants within a week. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed in Houston, and Joan Guerrero was killed in Biddeford, Maine. ICE claimed Salgado Araujo used his vehicle as a weapon, a claim disputed by other witnesses present in the vehicle.

Sources