ICE to Require Body Cameras After Two Fatal Traffic Stops
ICE officers fatally shot two men during traffic stops — six days apart — with no body-camera footage of either incident. Now, border czar Tom Homan says ICE officers will be required to wear body cameras during vehicle stops. For immigrants across the US, the back-to-back killings have raised urgent questions about what rights you have if ICE pulls you over.
On July 7, an ICE officer in Houston fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national who had lived in the US for 35 years and was driving his construction crew to a job site. He was not the target of the operation. His family said he had no criminal history and was close to obtaining legal status. Six days later, on July 13, ICE agents in Biddeford, Maine shot and killed Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a Colombian national who, according to immigrant rights activists, was authorized to work in the US and had a Social Security number. He also was not the intended target. Neither shooting was recorded by a body camera.
What Homan Said — and What's Actually Happening
Tom Homan, the Trump administration's border czar, said on Fox & Friends Weekend that ICE will require at least one body camera per vehicle stop. "They exonerate more law enforcement than they convict," Homan said, "and I want officers to wear body cameras because I want the American people to see what the officers saw when they took that action." On CBS's Face the Nation, Homan said cameras were already purchased and that trainers are now being deployed nationwide. He blamed a partial government shutdown earlier this year for delaying the rollout. ICE launched a body-camera pilot program in 2024, covering five cities: Baltimore, Buffalo, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. The Trump administration had previously pushed to cut that program's funding by 75%, according to Reuters reporting from January.
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The two shootings are part of a broader pattern. According to a Guardian review of public reports, Durán's death was the 11th fatal shooting by federal immigration officials since Trump's second term began. After the killings, Homan announced a temporary suspension of most vehicle stops to review procedures — but within 24 hours, President Trump directed agents to resume them. Separately, the New York Times reported that FBI agents will no longer investigate confrontations involving ICE agents, a decision communicated in writing on Thursday. Previously, those investigations could produce evidence used to prosecute ICE officers involved in violent encounters.
What to Do If ICE Stops Your Vehicle
- Stay calm and keep your hands visible. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. You have the right to remain silent — say clearly: "I am exercising my right to remain silent."
- Do not run and do not resist physically, even if you believe the stop is unlawful. Lawyers recommend challenging the stop later in immigration court, not at the scene.
- If you are detained, ask immediately for a lawyer. You have the right to contact an attorney. Write down the names and badge numbers of any officers if you can do so safely.
- Tell a trusted person your location as soon as possible. Immigration legal aid organizations in your area can help if you or a family member is detained.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “Deportation Defense”.
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During any ICE vehicle stop, you have the constitutional right to remain silent and to refuse consent to a search. Do not answer questions about where you were born or how you entered the US. If you are arrested, invoke your right to counsel immediately and do not sign any documents without an attorney present — signing certain forms can waive your right to a hearing before an immigration judge. Given the current enforcement climate, anyone without secure legal status should consult an immigration attorney now to understand their options before an encounter occurs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to answer ICE questions if they stop my car?
No. You have the right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment. You can say: "I am exercising my right to remain silent." You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the US.
Can ICE legally stop my vehicle?
ICE officers can conduct traffic stops, but like any law enforcement, they need legal justification. If you believe a stop was unlawful, do not resist at the scene. Lawyers recommend raising that challenge later in immigration court or through a civil rights attorney.
What happens if I am detained during a traffic stop?
Ask for a lawyer immediately. You have the right to legal representation in immigration proceedings. Do not sign any documents before speaking with an attorney — some forms waive your right to a hearing before an immigration judge.
Will ICE officers now have body cameras during stops?
Tom Homan announced that ICE will require at least one body camera per vehicle stop and that cameras have been purchased and training is underway. However, as of the date of this article, the nationwide rollout is still in progress and not yet complete.