ICE agent involved in fatal shooting violent and unstable, family says

US President Donald Trump reversed a temporary suspension of traffic stops by federal immigration agents, ending a policy shift that had drawn widespread attention following two fatal shootings involving ICE officers. The decision came after a series of incidents that intensified public scrutiny over the agency’s enforcement practices. In a social media post, Trump emphasized the importance of maintaining the tool, calling it “one of ICE’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools,” and urged continued use of traffic stops despite concerns raised by critics. The reversal follows a brief halt in most vehicle stops ordered by ICE officials after two men were killed in separate incidents within a span of six days. The first incident occurred in Maine, where an ICE agent shot and killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian national, on Monday in Biddeford, approximately 24 kilometers south of Portland. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the officer feared for public safety and fired after witnessing the individual attempt to flee from a vehicle linked to a suspected undocumented immigrant. A bystander reported hearing the victim say, “I tried to stop” before losing consciousness. Advocacy groups noted that the deceased had authorization to work in the US and held a Social Security number, though his identity was not officially confirmed. Friends and neighbors referred to him as Joan, and hundreds gathered the next day to protest outside a local ICE detention center. Just days prior, another incident in Texas led to similar outrage. On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national with no criminal record and a long history in the US, was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Houston. The Department of Homeland Security stated that Mr. Araujo had collided with an ICE vehicle and that the agent acted in self-defense. However, his family disputed this explanation, asserting that their lawyer had advised him on how to respond to such encounters. They claimed he was close to securing legal status and expressed fears that he might have been targeted due to suspicion of surveillance or theft. Over a thousand demonstrators marched through Houston, chanting slogans like “ICE out of Houston” and “Stand with immigrants.” ICE is charged with enforcing immigration laws and conducting arrests against individuals suspected of unlawful presence in the US. The shooting of Mr. Guerrero marked the ninth instance of lethal force used by ICE since President Trump initiated his immigration crackdown in early 2025. Trump, who made curbing illegal immigration a central focus of his administration, has consistently defended these measures as necessary to secure borders and uphold national security. The agency’s use of traffic stops has become a focal point of debate, with critics arguing that the tactic disproportionately affects communities of color and can lead to excessive force. Protests following both incidents underscored growing public concern over the potential for abuse and the need for greater oversight. While ICE maintains that its actions are lawful and aimed at protecting public safety, families of the victims and advocacy organizations continue to call for transparency and reform. As the situation unfolds, the broader implications for immigration policy and law enforcement practices remain under intense examination.