Federal authorities investigate after an ICE agent fatally shoots a Colombian national during an immigration enforcement operation in Maine.
A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has fatally shot a Colombian national during an immigration enforcement operation in the state of Maine, prompting a federal investigation and protests over the agency’s use of force.
The shooting occurred on Monday morning in Biddeford, where ICE officers were conducting an operation targeting an individual with a final order of removal. Authorities said the driver of a vehicle was shot after allegedly attempting to flee the scene.
“When ICE attempted to stop an individual driving from the residence, the vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon.”ICE said.
“The driver of the vehicle was struck.”
The agency did not provide further details explaining why the officer believed public safety was under immediate threat.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey said the officer involved, who serves with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division, had been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.
“Initial findings indicate that the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of the officer and was fatally shot,”Frey said, adding that the victim’s identity would not be released until family members had been notified.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General has taken over the investigation.
US Senator Susan Collins confirmed the federal inquiry, while independent Senator Angus King said he had initially been told the deceased was the subject of an immigration arrest warrant before later being informed by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that the man was not the intended target.
The Colombian Embassy confirmed the victim was a Colombian national and said it had requested further information from US authorities.
The embassy said it had “requested information and clarification” from the Department of Homeland Security “regarding the circumstances surrounding this lamentable death and will continue to follow the case closely as the investigation progresses.”
The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition identified the deceased as a 26-year-old Colombian authorised to work in the United States.
“He was a member of our community, a neighbor, and a human being whose life was cut tragically short,” the organisation said.
The shooting sparked demonstrations in Biddeford, with protesters also gathering outside Senator Collins’ office to oppose additional funding for ICE.
Collins called for a full and impartial investigation of what happened.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as unmarked vehicles surrounded a white sedan before multiple shots were fired.
Biddeford resident Lucas Scott said he saw officers wearing ICE vests surrounding the vehicle before hearing lat least four gunshots.
Another witness, Mary Hayes, told reporters she saw the victim’s family moments after the shooting. “I watched a wife fall to her knees looking at her husband’s dead body on the ground.”
“I watched a little girl crying with a little pink backpack on because she’s never going to see her father again.”
