Mullin Won’t Say Whether He Briefed Trump Before Pausing ICE Traffic Stops

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin refused to confirm whether he consulted President Donald Trump prior to temporarily halting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) traffic stops following two incidents involving fatal shootings of migrants. The pause came after ICE officers in Houston and Biddeford, Maine, shot dead individuals during traffic stops. During a press briefing focused on voter roll integrity, Mullin avoided directly answering questions about the timing of the suspension, instead emphasizing increased enforcement actions against undocumented immigrants. Mullin stated that he had recently communicated with Trump via text messages and asserted there was no disagreement between them regarding immigration enforcement. However, he shifted focus to statistics showing an increase in arrests and deportations, describing the temporary reduction in traffic stops as a strategic move to avoid excessive escalation. The decision to halt traffic stops followed two separate incidents in which ICE officers shot dead individuals attempting to evade arrest. In Houston, ICE reported that a Mexican national, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, attempted to flee after being pulled over and rammed an ICE vehicle before attempting to run over an officer, prompting the officer to fire in self-defense. In Biddeford, an ICE officer shot a Colombian man who allegedly tried to escape during a traffic stop. These incidents prompted the temporary cessation of vehicle stops, which resumed later in the week with additional protocols, such as requiring at least one agent per team to wear a body camera. President Trump expressed opposition to the pause, stating on his social media platform that he believed it compromised ICE's ability to combat crime effectively. He criticized the Biden administration's immigration policies and urged ICE to continue its enforcement activities. White House border security advisor Tom Homan described the pause as a temporary adjustment rather than a permanent policy shift. Internal discussions within ICE raised questions about the lack of consultation with Trump before implementing the pause. One source suggested confusion over the decision-making process, noting that it seemed unusual not to seek direct approval from the president before issuing directives to field offices nationwide. Concerns arose among ICE personnel regarding the readiness of body cameras, which were supposed to be distributed to all field offices within 60 days, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Separately, video footage surfaced depicting ICE agents in plainclothes attempting to detain a man at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. The incident, captured on camera, showed the agents restraining an elderly individual who was later identified as Phu Nguyen, a 57-year-old Australian citizen who had overstayed his visa. Despite initial resistance from the man, the agents eventually left him handcuffed on one wrist. Nguyen was subsequently arrested at Los Angeles International Airport when his flight arrived the following day. The footage sparked widespread public outcry and condemnation from local politicians. Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada called for greater oversight of ICE operations, arguing that their actions were causing unnecessary fear among residents and harming the state's tourism industry. Local advocacy groups demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and urged Governor Joe Lombardo to ensure transparency and accountability for federal law enforcement agencies operating within the state. The events surrounding the temporary halt of ICE traffic stops and the controversial detention at Las Vegas Airport highlight ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement strategies and community safety concerns. As ICE resumes its traffic stop operations with new procedures, the effectiveness of these measures and the broader implications for immigration policy remain under scrutiny.