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ICE Shot and Killed Johan Durán Guerrero, 26, in Maine. He Had Work Authorization.

Resist Now 3 min read

ICE Shot a 26-Year-Old Man in Maine on His Way to Work

ICE agents fatally shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero on the morning of July 13, 2026, in Biddeford, Maine. Durán Guerrero, a 26-year-old originally from Colombia, was driving when agents attempted a vehicle stop. He was struck by an agent’s gunfire and died from his injuries.

Immigrant rights advocates and people close to Durán Guerrero say he was authorized to work in the United States, held a Social Security number, and was not the named target of any warrant. The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement defending the shooting but conspicuously refused to address his immigration status directly, referring to him only as “a Colombian national.”

The agency’s statement said ICE was conducting surveillance on the last known address of “an illegal alien with a final order of removal” when Durán Guerrero left the residence in a vehicle. When agents attempted to stop him, the statement says the car “attempted to flee” and an officer “discharged his weapon” out of “fear for public safety.” Witnesses on the scene told reporters they saw agents dragging Durán Guerrero from the car after the shooting while he told them he had been trying to “stop.”

“Our community is hurting.”

Eisha Khan, Biddeford, Maine resident, speaking to Democracy Now!, July 14, 2026

Durán Guerrero leaves behind a wife and a 3-year-old daughter. His killing came just days after ICE agents fatally shot a Mexican immigrant in Texas in similar circumstances, also while the man was driving.

ICE Halted Most Vehicle Stops After the Shooting

By July 14, 2026, a source at the Department of Homeland Security told reporters that ICE had ordered its agents to stop conducting most vehicle stops, at least temporarily. That order itself signals internal recognition that something went wrong. No independent investigation has been announced publicly.

ICE has not clarified whether agents confirmed Durán Guerrero’s identity before opening fire, whether they had any legal basis to stop him specifically, or why the agency initially declined to state his work authorization status.

Senator Angus King’s office, which confirmed Durán Guerrero’s identity to the New York Times, has not issued a formal statement demanding an investigation as of July 14, 2026.

What You Can Do Now

  1. Call Senator Angus King at (202) 224-5344 and Senator Susan Collins at (202) 224-2523. Demand a congressional investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, including whether ICE agents confirmed Durán Guerrero’s identity and legal status before the stop.

  2. Contact the DHS Office of Inspector General at (800) 323-8603 to file a complaint or request an inquiry into the July 13 shooting. The OIG investigates civil rights violations by DHS components, including ICE.

  3. Reach out to your House representative using the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to co-sponsor any legislation requiring ICE to report all use-of-force incidents to Congress within 72 hours. No such bill currently exists, which is itself the problem.

  4. Find and contact the ACLU of Maine directly, as they are likely tracking this case for potential litigation and can connect community members with legal support.

Sources

[Callout: ICE ordered most vehicle stops halted after the shooting. DHS source confirmed to The Guardian.

The Guardian, July 14, 2026]