ICE Restricts High-Speed Pursuits, Revises Traffic Stop Policies

Why it matters locally: While the new ICE policies on high-speed pursuits and traffic stops are national in scope, these directives could influence interactions between federal immigration agents and residents across Iowa, including in cities like Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.

WASHINGTON D.C. — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued new guidance prohibiting its agents from engaging in high-speed vehicle pursuits and imposing tighter regulations on traffic stops. An agency memo details these updated policies. The new directives follow a series of incidents where ICE-initiated vehicle stops escalated. In these situations, drivers reportedly refused to cooperate or attempted to flee. ICE agents have discharged firearms in over a dozen such encounters since last year. These incidents resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals and caused injuries to several others. The memo outlines the specific conditions under which agents may initiate or continue a traffic stop, emphasizing de-escalation tactics and safety protocols. It also defines the circumstances that would prevent agents from pursuing a fleeing vehicle at high speeds.