ICE Shoots Two Men Dead During Traffic Stops: Know Your Rights
You are driving to work, and suddenly federal agents are following your car. That is exactly what happened to Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston on July 8, 2026 — and he did not survive the stop. Six days later, Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was shot dead at an intersection in Biddeford, Maine, just outside the laundromat where he took his three-year-old daughter. Neither man was the intended target of the operation.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, had lived in the US for 35 years. He was driving to work with his brother and two other passengers in Houston when ICE agents began following his car, pulled him over, and fired a fatal shot through the open passenger-side window. His son Ronaldo recognized his father's voice on a Facebook video of the shooting — crying for help. Salgado Araujo left behind a wife and three US citizen children. Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 26, was driving near his home in Biddeford, Maine, when agents stopped him at an intersection. Neighbors watched his partner and three-year-old daughter run outside in the aftermath, the child still in her Bluey pajamas. Durán Guerrero had been working multiple jobs to support his family.
What the government said — and what witnesses recorded
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued statements after each shooting, but provided no evidence to support its claims. DHS said Salgado Araujo "weaponized his vehicle" against officers — the same language used after previous ICE shootings. After Durán Guerrero's death, DHS said officers fired while "fearing for public safety." Witness videos of both incidents have already cast doubt on those official accounts. The two men were the 29th and 30th people that immigration officers have fired on since President Trump took office, according to the Trace, a news outlet tracking these shootings in its Gun Violence Data Hub. Officers killed eight of those people, including two US citizens — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — shot during a militarized enforcement operation in Minnesota. This week, a man fleeing ICE agents in Florida died after being struck by a truck. Twenty-two people have died in ICE custody this year.
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A deportation machine with $70 billion and no body cameras
Last month, Trump signed a bill giving ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) $70 billion in new funding — $38 billion of that specifically for ICE arrests, detention, and deportations. The administration has recruited thousands of new agents, many without proper vetting. At the same time, it has been shutting down the offices responsible for investigating deaths and civil rights abuses inside immigration agencies. DHS promised to equip all agents with body cameras, but that has not been fully carried out. The officers who stopped Salgado Araujo and Durán Guerrero were not wearing cameras. After Durán Guerrero's killing, the administration briefly paused vehicle pullover operations — then the president reversed that pause almost immediately. ICE is now arresting people not just in major cities but in smaller towns across the country. In Wisconsin this month, agents trailed and stopped immigrants — including people with valid work permits and legal status — while driving in Milwaukee and suburban Greenfield. Data analyzed by the Guardian shows that the vast majority of people ICE has arrested had no criminal convictions, despite the agency's public statements about targeting "the worst of the worst."
A recent Supreme Court ruling allowed the administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — a legal protection that lets people from certain countries live and work in the US — from Haitian and Syrian immigrants. That decision strips legal status from about 1.3 million people. Those who cannot quickly find another legal pathway to stay in the US could face immediate arrest and deportation. In Houston, community members are sharing "know-your-rights" pamphlets at memorials and vigils. Immigrant rights organizer Jasmine Khadem Gonzalez said her training now includes documenting agents in the field — recording badge numbers, license plates, timestamps, and video — to build a reliable record of violations.
What to do if ICE stops your vehicle
- Stay calm and do not run. You have the right to remain silent. You are not required to answer questions about your immigration status, your birthplace, or how you entered the US.
- Do not open your window more than a crack. You are not legally required to open your car door. Hand documents through a small opening if asked.
- Record everything you safely can. Note badge numbers, license plate numbers, and the time. If a passenger can safely film the stop, that video may be critical later.
- Contact an immigration lawyer immediately after any ICE encounter. If you or someone you know is detained, call a lawyer before signing any documents. Signing certain forms can waive your right to a hearing before an immigration judge.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “Appealing to the BIA”.
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Anyone stopped by ICE during a traffic stop should invoke their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent immediately and clearly — say 'I am exercising my right to remain silent.' Do not consent to a search of your vehicle. If you are detained, ask for a lawyer before answering any questions or signing anything, including a voluntary departure form, which can bar you from re-entering the US for years. Given the current enforcement climate, every immigrant — regardless of status — should consult an immigration attorney now to understand their specific risks and options before an encounter occurs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE pull me over in my car?
Yes. ICE agents and local law enforcement deputized by the federal government can stop vehicles. However, you have the right to remain silent during any stop. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the US.
What happens if ICE arrests me during a traffic stop?
You will likely be taken to an ICE detention facility. You have the right to contact a lawyer. Do not sign any documents before speaking with an attorney — signing a voluntary departure form, for example, can waive your right to a hearing before an immigration judge and may bar you from returning to the US.
I have a work permit or TPS. Can ICE still arrest me?
Yes. Reports from Wisconsin this month show that ICE has stopped and detained people with valid work permits and legal status. The Supreme Court ruling on TPS also means that about 1.3 million Haitian and Syrian TPS holders may lose their legal status. If your status is at risk, speak with an immigration lawyer as soon as possible.
What should I do if I witness an ICE arrest or shooting in my neighborhood?
If it is safe to do so, record the incident on your phone. Note badge numbers, vehicle license plates, and the exact time and location. Share that information with a local immigrant rights organization or legal aid group. Witness video has already contradicted official DHS statements in both the Houston and Maine shootings.