BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) — A federal immigration officer fatally shot a motorist in Biddeford, Maine, on July 13, 2026. This incident marks the second use of deadly force by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents within a week and is reported to be the ninth such incident since the initiation of stricter immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.
The deceased has been identified as a 26-year-old Colombian national. According to Senator Angus King, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the officer opened fire after the motorist allegedly attempted to use his vehicle as a weapon while being pursued for deportation. The shooting occurred in a coastal city approximately 15 miles southwest of Portland.
The Maine attorney general’s office, along with the FBI and other agencies, is investigating the incident. Initial statements suggest the motorist was trying to flee toward the agent. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave.
Advocacy groups, including the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, reported that the man was authorized to work in the U.S. and held a Social Security number. Following the shooting, his family reached out to the coalition for support. Mufalo Chitam, the coalition's executive director, noted that the family is not yet prepared to speak publicly about the incident.
Witnesses described the aftermath of the shooting, with one local resident recounting the distress of the victim's family. The Colombian Embassy is working with U.S. authorities to confirm the individual's identity.
Security footage from a nearby business captured the vehicle rolling into an intersection after the shots were fired. However, the agents involved in the shooting were not equipped with body-worn cameras. Senator King emphasized the need for a transparent and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the use of deadly force.
Protests against ICE and the immigration policies of the Trump administration occurred shortly after the shooting, with demonstrators expressing their outrage and calling for an end to such incidents.