Maine ICE Agent Fatally Shoots Colombian Driver During Enforcement Operation

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:00:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

An ICE officer discharged a rifle into a Colombian motorist in Biddeford, Maine, killing him and triggering protests, while investigators probe the use of deadly force.

A 26‑year‑old Colombian driver was shot dead by an ICE enforcement agent during a stop in Biddeford, Maine, amid a national debate over federal immigration operations. The incident followed a similar killing in Texas, raising questions about the justification of lethal force by immigration agents. Maine’s Attorney General and senator Susan Collins have called for a full investigation, with officers standing down pending inquiry. Protests erupted outside the state Senate and Senator Collins’ office, demanding accountability. Officials are examining why the agent “felt for public safety” and whether the driver was the intended target. The case adds new pressure on DHS and ICE as scrutiny over enforcement tactics grows.

Maine ICE Agent Fatally Shoots Colombian Driver During Enforcement Operation

ICE agents investigate the scene in Biddeford, Maine, where the driver was killed.

In the latest incident, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were targeting an address in Biddeford where a person with a final removal order was known to reside. At approximately 07:00 EDT, the agents tried to stop a vehicle believed to be linked to that address. The driver attempted to flee, prompting an officer to “discharge his weapon” and strike the individual.

The shot killed a 26‑year‑old Colombian man who was reportedly authorised to work in the United States. ICE’s statement, cited by the Minneapolis Flood‑Control Centre, stated the law‑enforcement officer “fearing for public safety” fired the rifle as the vehicle fled.

Maine’s Attorney General Aaron Frey released initial statements that the incident involved an officer from ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations division, who has now been placed on leave pending an investigation.

Two white cars with police tape, windscreen of one punctured with bullet holes — Vehicles involved in the incident were surrounded by police tape, witness accounts describe bullet impacts on vehicle walls.

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican representing Maine, called for a “full and impartial investigation” while a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security prepared to take over the probe.

The incident quickly sparked protest activity in Biddeford and outside Collins’ Senate office in Maine. Protesters displayed anti‑ICE signs and demanded transparency regarding the agent’s decision to use lethal force.

Protesters holding anti‑ICE signs in Maine — Protesters rally against ICE operations at the state Senate in Maine.

For the United States, this killing adds to an emerging pattern of fatal shootings by immigration agents during enforcement operations, as seen in a Texas incident that killed a builder who was not the intended target of the stop.

Law‑enforcement officials are now investigating whether deadly force was necessary and how duty protocols were applied. The Inspector General’s office for DHS is leading the federal review while domestic political debate over immigration enforcement continues.