In brief
On July 13, 2026, an ICE agent fired a fatal shot at a Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine, after a vehicle attempted to flee the scene. The incident has drawn protests from local residents and a national response from Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, who demand a full inquiry. Maine’s top prosecutor has placed the ICE officer on leave while the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general takes over the probe. The case follows a recent pattern of deadly ICE shootings, including a Texas case that same month and a fatal incident in Houston earlier in July. The investigation is scrutinizing the use of deadly force and the lack of body cameras on the officers involved.
ICE forces in Maine have once again turned deadly. On the morning of July 13, 2026, an ICE agent fired a single, fatal shot at a 26‑year‑old Colombian national in Biddeford, Maine, during an enforcement operation aimed at a residence with a final removal order. The weaponized vehicle was described by ICE as an escape attempt, prompting the officer to discharge his firearm. The man’s identity is withheld pending formal identification and family notification.
Local residents rushed the scene. Witnesses reported flashes of bright lights from a white SUV and several ICE officers in green vests. At least four gunshots were heard, and the victim was found injured on the street. Protesters gathered outside the entrance of Senator Susan Collins’ office, voicing opposition to her funding of ICE and demanding transparency.
According to Maine’s Attorney General Aaron Frey, the officer involved is a member of the Enforcement Removal Operations division and has been placed on leave pending an investigation led by the DHS inspector general, as confirmed by Senator Collins. Senator Angus King highlighted confusion over the target: DHS chief Markwayne Mullin had initially said the man was under an arrest warrant, only to later clarify he was not the intended target. “He was shot because the vehicle was in the line of fire,” King said.
The incident follows a pattern of fatal ICE shootings in recent weeks. Earlier this month, an ICE officer killed a 52‑year‑old Mexican builder in Houston, and on July 6, an ICE agent fatally shot a 52‑year‑old builder in Texas. All cases have raised questions about the use of lethal force and the lack of body camera footage.
Public demonstrations in Biddeford and surrounding areas reflected the growing backlash against aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. Protesters carried anti‑ICE signs, expressed grief over the lost life, and demanded a thorough investigation that clarifies whether deadly force was justified. The incident has intensified calls for policy reform within the Department of Homeland Security.
