A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent recently killed a man during a traffic stop in Maine, prompting authorities to suspend vehicle checks for the time being.
The incident occurred on Monday, July 14, as federal agents searched the last known address of another man with a final eviction order.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officers attempted to stop the now-dead man’s car, but he attempted to flee, prompting an officer to open fire out of fear for public safety. The man, identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, 26, from Colombia, died from his injuries; however, it was later revealed that he was not the one ICE was looking for.
According to neighbors, the victim was married and the mother of a two or three year old daughter.
Maine Sen. Angus King said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin initially told him Guerrero was the man agents were looking for. About three hours later, King said Mullin called back and admitted it wasn’t true. Guerrero was ultimately not the intended target.
King is now pushing for a full and transparent investigation. He also said body cameras still have not reached all ICE units, including in Biddeford. He was told the cameras would arrive, but maybe not for 45 days.
This is the second deadly ICE shooting in less than two weeks. Days earlier, ICE agents shot and killed a Mexican man, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, during a similar vehicle stop in Houston. His brother, who was in the vehicle with him, said someone simply told him “stop” and immediately fired shots.
Both shootings involved traffic stops, a tactic ICE has relied heavily on to make immigration-related arrests. Following the backlash, ICE reportedly asked agents to largely suspend vehicle stops for the time being.
