A man was shot and killed during an incident involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Monday morning in Biddeford, Maine, according to local and state officials. Maine Governor Janet Mills stated she had been briefed on the incident and confirmed that state police are cooperating with local and federal authorities. The Biddeford Police Department responded to reports of the shooting at the intersection of Pool and Hill streets.
The victim has been identified as a 26-year-old Colombian man who was authorized to work in the United States. Ruben Torres, an advocacy manager at the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, indicated that they are awaiting notification of the victim’s family before releasing further details.
Witness Daniel Boucher reported hearing gunshots around 7:30 a.m. and seeing a large vehicle collide with a smaller one, followed by an officer pulling a bleeding man from one of the vehicles.
The Maine Attorney General's office stated that an ICE officer was executing a removal order when the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle and was shot. The investigation is ongoing, with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI involved.
Senator Susan Collins emphasized the need for a full and impartial investigation, while Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain called for transparency regarding the incident. Senator Angus King noted that ICE agents involved were not wearing body cameras, which has raised concerns about accountability.
Protests occurred in Biddeford following the shooting, with demonstrators expressing their opposition to ICE enforcement. This incident follows a recent pattern of increased ICE activity in the state, which has been criticized for lack of transparency regarding operations and arrests.