At a hearing held in Biddeford, Maine, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D‑ME) told lawmakers that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation that resulted in the death of 25‑year‑old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was aimed at his roommate, not Guerrero himself. Guerrero, a Colombian national, was shot and killed by an ICE agent on July 13 while driving his roommate’s car near the home in Biddeford.
Target was not the victim, according to Rep. Pingree
Pingree said the revelation contradicts earlier statements from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the incident. She noted that Guerrero did not have a final removal order; he was awaiting a decision on his asylum claim and held a valid work permit. “Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero should be alive today,” Pingree said, adding that many basic questions remain unanswered.
DHS response
DHS issued a statement defending its prior assessment, saying ICE was conducting “targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal immigrant with a final order of removal.” A DHS spokesperson declined to disclose law‑enforcement methods, stating that neither Guerrero nor his roommate had been identified as the operation’s target.
Ongoing investigation and calls for accountability
The shooting remains under investigation by the Office of the Maine Attorney General. Pingree, along with several other Democratic members of Congress, urged DHS to provide answers regarding the training and vetting of agents after it emerged that the officer involved had a history of violent behavior and mental‑health concerns.
Pingree also referenced a policy shift in which ICE announced it would suspend most vehicle stops following the incident, noting that former President Donald Trump quickly expressed opposition to that change.
Implications for immigration enforcement
The case highlights tensions between federal immigration enforcement actions and local communities in Maine. While ICE maintains that its operations target individuals with final removal orders, the Biddeford incident raises questions about the accuracy of targeting and the safeguards in place to protect innocent residents.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
