Key facts
- An immigration officer fatally shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine.
- Durán Guerrero is the ninth person killed during immigration enforcement operations since the Trump administration's crackdown began.
- At least four of these deaths have involved individuals in vehicles.
- U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has urged DHS to suspend non-urgent vehicle stops.
- Policing experts warn against shooting into moving vehicles due to inherent dangers.
An immigration officer fatally shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian national, in Biddeford, Maine, during an immigration enforcement operation. The Department of Homeland Security stated the officer fired when Durán Guerrero attempted to flee the scene, posing a threat to public safety. This incident marks the ninth death during such operations since the Trump administration's immigration crackdown began, with at least four of these fatalities involving individuals in vehicles. The pattern has prompted concerns from experts and lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who urged DHS to suspend non-urgent vehicle stops. Policing experts, like John Sandweg, a former ICE acting director, have long warned about the dangers of shooting into moving vehicles, suggesting alternative methods for making arrests. Recent similar incidents include the deaths of Ruben Ray Martinez in South Texas, Renee Good in Minneapolis, and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. The narrative surrounding the Houston shooting has been challenged by conflicting accounts from witnesses, as reported by Rep. Sylvia Garcia, who visited individuals detained in connection with the incident. Experts like Geoffrey P. Alpert emphasize the need for understanding the justification for every shot fired and highlight the inherent risks of losing control of a vehicle if the driver is injured or killed, turning it into an "unguided missile." Notably, officers were not wearing body cameras during the recent killings in Houston and Maine, despite DHS's prior announcement to equip all officers with cameras.