A Colombian national was shot dead by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during an immigration enforcement operation in the state of Maine, triggering protests and renewed scrutiny of the agency’s use of deadly force. The incident marks the second fatal ICE shooting involving a migrant within a week.
The shooting occurred on Monday morning in Biddeford, Maine, during an operation targeting an individual with a final deportation order.
ICE says officer fired after vehicle tried to flee
According to ICE, agents attempted to stop a vehicle leaving the address under surveillance. The agency alleged that the driver tried to flee, prompting an officer to open fire after fearing for public safety.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said preliminary findings indicate the vehicle moved towards the officer before the fatal shooting. The ICE agent involved has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.
Authorities have not officially released the victim’s identity, but local lawmakers and neighbours identified him as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian national.
Victim reportedly was not the intended target
The case took a new turn after US Senator Angus King revealed that the man who was killed was not the individual ICE had initially intended to arrest. The disclosure drew sharp criticism from Maine Governor Janet Mills, who described the incident as “disturbing and infuriating”.
Colombia’s Embassy in the United States confirmed the deceased was a Colombian citizen and said it had sought clarification from the US Department of Homeland Security regarding the circumstances of the shooting.
Protests demand accountability
Dozens of residents gathered in Biddeford following the incident, demanding transparency and accountability. Witnesses said they heard multiple gunshots before seeing the victim lying on the ground while his wife and young daughter watched in horror.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General has taken over the investigation and will examine whether the use of deadly force was justified.
The shooting follows another fatal ICE operation in Houston, Texas, earlier this month, where a Mexican construction worker was killed after officers mistakenly targeted him during an immigration enforcement action.
The latest incident has intensified debate over immigration enforcement tactics and calls for greater oversight of ICE operations across the United States.