U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been ordered to temporarily halt conducting vehicle stops nationwide, a directive issued by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin following two recent deadly shootings involving the agency. Sources familiar with the matter told ABC News that the pause is effective immediately.

The decision comes in the wake of two separate incidents in Texas and Maine where ICE operations involving vehicle stops resulted in fatalities. The directive aims to allow for a review of procedures and the implementation of new training for officers.

In an email reviewed by ABC News, a senior ICE official informed deportation officers that all personnel are instructed to prioritize alternative methods for immigration enforcement outside of vehicle stops. While the pause is in effect, ICE officers will generally stop targets on the street, but vehicle stops may still occur in cases involving the most dangerous individuals.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reportedly spoke with Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who urged the cessation of non-urgent vehicle stops. The Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that it is "always evaluating our procedures to keep our officers safe and criminals off our streets," but declined to comment on specific law enforcement tactics.

Border czar Tom Homan confirmed the temporary pause in an interview, stating it is not a policy change but a measure to review recent incidents. "ICE leadership along with DHS wants to look at these last couple incidents and look, is there something that could have been done better? Is there any training that could be improved?" Homan said, expressing confidence in ICE's training and expecting the pause to be short.

One of the incidents prompting the pause involved the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Johan Sebastián Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. According to Senator Angus King of Maine, Guerrero was not the intended target of the ICE operation. ICE agents had reportedly attempted a vehicle stop while surveilling the last known address of an individual with a final order of removal.

Sources indicate that the pause is temporary, and ICE officers are slated to receive new training on vehicle stop procedures. Additionally, some vehicle stops may still be conducted during the pause, but only in the presence of a local law enforcement officer trained in vehicle stops who partners with ICE under the agency's 287(g) program.

The agency is expected to review the circumstances surrounding the recent shootings to identify any potential improvements in training or operational tactics. The pause underscores a heightened focus on safety and procedure within immigration enforcement operations.