An ICE agent has fatally shot a Colombian national during an immigration enforcement operation in Biddeford, Maine, marking the second deadly use of force by the agency in recent weeks. The incident has triggered protests, drawn responses from multiple elected officials, and launched a federal investigation.
Details of the Biddeford Shooting
According to ICE, agents were conducting surveillance at an address in Biddeford at approximately 07:00 EDT on Monday, targeting an individual with a final order of removal. When agents attempted to stop a vehicle leaving the premises, the driver allegedly tried to flee. ICE stated that an officer, "fearing for public safety," discharged his weapon, striking the driver.
The officer involved was from ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations department and has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, according to Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey. Frey's initial statements indicated that the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of the officer before being fatally shot.
ICE did not provide specific details about what prompted the officer's safety concerns.
Witness Lucas Scott, a Biddeford resident, told the Biddeford Gazette that around 07:20 local time, he observed flashing lights from an unmarked white SUV and at least two officers wearing green ICE vests. Scott said agents were shouting as they surrounded a white sedan, followed by at least four gunshots.
Another witness, Mary Hayes, told the Associated Press that the deceased man lived nearby with his wife and daughter. She described seeing the man's wife collapse upon seeing her husband's body, and a young girl crying with a pink backpack.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
The identity of the deceased has not been officially released, pending formal identification and family notification. However, the Embassy of Colombia confirmed that the individual was a Colombian national and has requested information and clarification from DHS regarding the circumstances of the death.
The Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition identified the deceased as a 26-year-old Colombian who was authorized to work in the United States. The organization described him as "a member of our community, a neighbor, and a human being whose life was cut tragically short."
Senator Angus King, a political independent representing Maine, revealed that he received conflicting information from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. King said he was initially told that the deceased was the target of an arrest warrant in an immigration operation. However, hours later, Mullin called King to clarify that the man was not, in fact, the target of a warrant.
King also relayed that Mullin told him the man was shot after attempting to "weaponise" his vehicle by driving it at police. The senator noted that the officers involved were not wearing body cameras, and that the investigation would examine whether the use of deadly force was necessary.