New ICE guidance bans high-speed car chases and sets tighter rules for traffic stops, a memo shows | JQJO

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued an internal memo prohibiting officers from engaging in high-speed vehicle pursuits under any circumstances. Signed by Enforcement and Removal Operations Executive Associate Director Marcos D. Charles, the directive also mandates specific training before personnel can conduct routine traffic stops. The policy shift follows multiple escalations during vehicle stops over the past year, resulting in over a dozen weapon discharges, at least four deaths, and several injuries. The memo directs agents to record vehicle details for later investigation rather than chasing fleeing drivers. This policy update comes amid ongoing friction within the federal administration regarding high-risk traffic enforcement tactics. Following fatal incidents in Maine and Texas, temporary halts on vehicle stops faced public pushback from President Donald Trump, who defended traffic enforcement as an essential crime-fighting tool. The new rules restrict pursuit protocols nationwide while establishing stricter training benchmarks for agents executing mobile operations.

A powerful coalition of federal legislators, executive branch officials, and multinational technology corporations has coalesced around a strategy of "federal preemption," seeking to strip state governments of their authority over generative AI. The coalition argues that the legal frameworks governing these technologies are in a state of flux as generative AI affects every sector of the economy, from healthcare diagnostics to creative industries. The push aims to centralize regulation at the federal level, limiting state‑level oversight of AI development and deployment.