DETROIT – A brief pause on certain traffic stops by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has sparked debate after President Donald Trump called on the agency to continue using the tactic despite recent fatal and serious crashes tied to ICE pursuits.
The controversy comes after ICE wanted to scale back on non-urgent traffic stops after two people were killed in separate ICE-related encounters in less than a week.
However, Trump criticized the agency’s decision to limit some traffic stops, writing on Truth Social that ICE “cannot give up” what he described as one of its most effective crime-fighting tools.
Liz Jacob, lead staff attorney at the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, said the brief pause could have prevented injuries suffered by some of the organization’s clients.
“I want to underscore that if a policy like this had been in place even a few weeks ago, our clients here at the Sugar Law Center , the communities that we’re representing in Detroit and Michigan, would be safer,” Jacob said.
Jacob ‘s law firm represented Detroit residents Yerlys Moreno López and Mohamd Salim Abdessamed, both of whom were involved in encounters with ICE that escalated into vehicle pursuits. She said her agency fought for each client’s civil rights in federal court.
Moreno López said she injured her knee after a pursuit in May.
In June, Abdessamed crashed after fleeing from ICE agents and was impaled by a fence post.
Jacob said in both instances her clients were approached by agents in unmarked vehicles.
Local 4 reached out to ICE about Moreno López and Abdessamed. Their accounts of each accident are below:
“On May 19, 2026, ICE arrested Yerlys Moreno Lopez, a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela, in Detroit. This criminal illegal alien was wanted for a previous hit-and-run involving a law enforcement vehicle on April 9, 2025. On May 19, officers attempted to initiate a standard vehicle stop, when this illegal alien refused to comply and sped from officers at a high rate of speed—in the process, nearly striking an ICE vehicle. The subject collided with a parked car and fled the vehicle on foot—she was apprehended shortly after. At the scene, Detroit Fire EMS evaluated Moreno-Lopez, bandaged her right knee, and prepared to transport her to the hospital. She refused further medical treatment at the scene and was taken into ICE custody. While in custody at the field office, Moreno began complaining of knee pain and officers called EMS to transport her back to the hospital.
“Moreno Lopez Yaquby entered the U.S. from Mexico, at the Calexico, California point of entry, and was RELEASED into the United States on April 15, 2024, by the Biden administration, using the disastrous CBP One app. She will receive full due process and will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.”
“The Biden Administration abused the parole authority under the disastrous CBP One program to allow millions of illegal aliens into the U.S. which further fueled the worst border crisis in U.S. history.”
On Mohamd Salim Abdessamed:
“On June 4, 2026, ICE officers attempted a lawful vehicle stop on the west side of Detroit during a targeted enforcement operation. As officers attempted the stop, Mohamd Salim Abdessamed, an illegal alien from Mauritania, immediately and dangerously tried to evade arrest and struck three government vehicles, pinning an ICE officer’s leg in the car door. Abdessamed continued on before losing control of his vehicle and crashing through a fence and a garage before the vehicle came to a stop on top of two other vehicles. An ICE officer and the suspect were transported to area hospitals for treatment. This incident remains an active and ongoing investigation, and we will update the public as more information becomes available. As of June 8, Abdessamed remains in stable condition.
DHS Spokesperson
Jacob said that when it comes to ICE, it’s sad that two people died recently after interactions with them.
“That is devastating,” Jacob said. “We should never see that kind of action from law enforcement leading to people losing their lives.”
The temporary pause also came about a week after three Detroit officials sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security urging the agency to end dangerous vehicle pursuits in the city’s residential neighborhoods.
Jacob said that when it comes to ICE, it’s sad that two people died recently after interactions with them.
“That is devastating,” Jacob said. “We should never see that kind of action from law enforcement leading to people losing their lives.”
The temporary pause also came about a week after three Detroit officials sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security urging the agency to end dangerous vehicle pursuits in the city’s residential neighborhoods.
“I don’t see why it would be necessary to do a vehicle stop for someone regarding simply an immigration matter at all,” said Victoria Camille, Detroit’s District 7 police commissioner, who signed the letter. “These are matters that can be handled through court systems and offices with paperwork.”
Camille said she hopes the department changes its policy.
Local 4 reached out to ICE before noon on Wednesday (July 15) and asked:
- How long did the agency plan to have the pause on non-urgent vehicle stops in place?
- How long had they been thinking about making this a reality?
- What was the deciding factor?
Then Local 4 saw reports of the president reversing the decision, so Local 4 emailed ICE media back and asked:
- Can they confirm President Donald Trump wanted a reversal?
They sent the same statement attributed to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, twice. Local 4 posted the reply below.
“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. If you are here illegally, LEAVE NOW. As our officers carry out operations to enforce our nations laws, they are facing a more than 1,300% increase in vehicle attacks.
“We remind illegal aliens attempting to evade arrest is dangerous. This reckless illegal alien activity comes after sanctuary politicians held webinars and shared resources for how to openly defy ICE:
▪️Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a webinar providing tips for illegal aliens to evade arrests at homes, workplaces, or in public.
▪️Dan Goldman posted a video online calling on illegal aliens to make a plan for ICE encounters.
▪️Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued multilingual flyers and online resources advising illegal aliens on how to evade arrest.
▪️California Governor Gavin Newsom released guides and sanctuary laws advising illegal aliens how to recognize ICE, block entry, and defy arrest.”
Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin