ICE officer kills Colombian man in Maine, not target

A 26-year-old Colombian man was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent during an operation in Biddeford, Maine, on the morning of July 13, 2026. Officials later confirmed the man was not the intended target of the enforcement action, sparking multiple investigations and widespread protests.

The incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. at the intersection of Pool and Hill streets. According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE officers were conducting surveillance at a residence related to a separate immigration case when a vehicle, driven by Joan Sebastian Guerrero, departed. The agency stated the vehicle attempted to flee and an officer, fearing for public safety, discharged his weapon. Guerrero was pronounced dead at the scene.

U.S. Senator Angus King of Maine said he received information from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirming that Guerrero was not the subject of the arrest warrant being executed. A DHS spokesperson stated Guerrero had entered the United States in September 2023 and received work authorization in May 2025. He lived in Biddeford with his partner and their young daughter.

Witness accounts and video footage depict a chaotic...