New ICE rules require body cameras and ban high-speed car chases

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has banned officers from engaging in high-speed car chases and introduced stricter rules for traffic stops following several shootings involving drivers.

Under new internal guidance obtained by the Associated Press, ICE officers are not authorised to pursue vehicles that refuse to pull over under any circumstances.

Officers must instead record information about the vehicle for further investigation.

The changes follow more than a dozen incidents since last year in which ICE agents fired their weapons during vehicle encounters, killing at least four people and injuring several others, according to the Associated Press.

Only officers who have completed specific agency training courses will now be allowed to conduct traffic stops.

Officers at the scene must also wear and activate body cameras, while vehicles used for stops must have lights and sirens.

Untrained officers may participate only “in a support capacity” as passengers, according to the memo.

ICE will continue to allow trained officers to use spike strips and “pinning”, which involves using a vehicle or barrier to trap or stop another car.

The guidance comes after fatal shootings during ICE vehicle stops in Maine and Texas in July.

President Donald Trump subsequently defended traffic stops as “one of ICE’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools.”