ICE Agent Under Investigation in Death of Colombian Man: “He Feared for Public Safety”
Posted on 07/15/26 at 18:43
- Colombian man dies after ICE shooting in Maine.
- ICE agent’s actions under investigation.
- Witnesses dispute official accounts.
The death of a Colombian citizen during an immigration enforcement operation has once again placed the use of deadly force by federal agents under scrutiny, raising questions about the circumstances that led to the shooting.
A federal immigration agent fatally shot a motorist on Monday in Biddeford, Maine, during an operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
ICE Shooting in Maine: How the Operation Began
ICE agent fatally shoots a driver in Maine, claiming he ‘feared for public safety.’ Click here ⬇️ https://t.co/QxhMghyMKG
— El Nuevo Día (@ElNuevoDia) July 14, 2026
This ICE shooting in Maine marks the second time within a week that ICE agents have used deadly force. According to immigrant advocacy organizations, it is at least the ninth death of this kind since immigration raids intensified under President Donald Trump.
Immigrant rights groups identified the victim as a 26-year-old Colombian citizen, according to Telemundo.
The Colombian Embassy said it is in contact with U.S. authorities and is providing consular assistance to the victim’s family.
Conflicting Accounts Shape the Investigation
#JoanSebastianGuerrero de 26 años.
[…] According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), agents were conducting surveillance at a residence connected to a person with a final deportation order. When a vehicle left the location, agents attempted to stop it, and the driver… pic.twitter.com/kuJ8hIyfL8
— Alan (@alan_muitu) July 14, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said ICE agents were conducting surveillance at a residence connected to an individual with a final order of removal.
According to the agency, when officers attempted to stop a vehicle leaving the location, the driver allegedly tried to flee.
The DHS said that, «out of concern for public safety,» an agent opened fire on the vehicle.
Before that explanation was released, Sen. Angus King, an independent representing Maine, said that Markwayne Mullin, identified in the article as the Secretary of Homeland Security, had told him the driver allegedly attempted to use the vehicle as a weapon against agents.
King later said investigators would have to determine which account accurately reflects what happened.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Hispanic Man Killed During ICE Operation in Maine Identified
«Did this young man actually try to run over an ICE agent, or was he in danger of hitting other people on the street?» King asked.
«Was there a reasonable expectation of bodily harm or a deadly threat that would justify this shooting?» the senator added.
The DHS did not immediately respond to additional requests for information about the events leading up to the ICE shooting in Maine.
King also said Mullin clarified that the operation was intended to execute an arrest warrant for another individual.
According to King, the man who was killed was not the original target of the operation.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins said the investigation is being conducted by the DHS Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Neither agency initially responded to requests for comment.
State Prosecutors and Witnesses Offer Additional Details of the ICE Shooting in Maine
The Maine Attorney General’s Office confirmed that it is conducting a parallel investigation into the case.
According to its preliminary findings, the driver was attempting to flee in the direction of the ICE agent when the shooting occurred.
The office also said the agent involved has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
Witness Daniel Boucher said he heard several gunshots before seeing a vehicle stopped near the curb.
He said the driver had visible injuries to his face and that the vehicle continued moving until it was struck again by a police truck.
«His face was covered in blood. His head was covered in blood,» Boucher said.
The witness also said he clearly heard the driver say: «I tried to stop.»
Boucher added that he saw an ICE agent approach with a medical kit to assist the man before emergency responders arrived.
He also recalled seeing the agent who fired the shots shortly afterward.
«I was upset, and I told him what I thought. He looked at me and said, ‘He tried to run me over,’ or something like that,» Boucher recalled.
«I don’t remember his exact words,» he added.
The Associated Press obtained surveillance video from a nearby security camera.
The footage shows a white vehicle arriving at an intersection, slowly turning in circles, and then becoming blocked by a police truck.
The video also shows two ICE agents opening the driver’s door and removing what appears to be an unconscious person.
However, the footage does not clearly show the exact moment when the shots were fired.
Advocacy Groups Say the Colombian Had a Valid Work Permit
The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and Presente! said the victim was legally authorized to work in the United States.
According to the coalition’s executive director, Mufalo Chitam, the family contacted the organization shortly after the shooting.
He added that relatives are not yet prepared to speak publicly about what happened.
Resident Mary Hayes, who lives near the location of the operation, said the Colombian man lived nearby with his wife and daughter.
«I saw a wife fall to her knees when she saw her husband’s body lying on the ground,» Hayes said.
«I saw a little girl with her pink backpack crying because she’ll never see her father again,» she added.
Another neighbor, Sadie Dilboy, recalled that the man frequently visited her laundromat with his daughter.
According to her, he would often give the little girl coins to buy candy from a vending machine while they waited.
«He was such a good person,» Dilboy said.
«He was always cleaning,» she added.
