Vice President Kamala Harris has called for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the death of Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian national who was fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during an operation in Biddeford, Maine. The incident occurred when agents were conducting surveillance at the last known address of an illegal immigrant with a final order of removal.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Guerrero was in a vehicle that attempted to flee ICE officers. An officer discharged his weapon, striking Guerrero, who later died from his injuries. DHS stated that Guerrero was not the intended target of the operation but had illegally crossed the border in September 2023 and was granted a work permit in May 2025, noting that work authorization does not confer legal status.
An eyewitness told the Portland Press Herald that Guerrero appeared to drive toward federal agents before shots were fired. Harris, who previously oversaw the Biden administration's efforts on migration root causes, a role critics dubbed "border czar," stated on X, "Joan Sebastian Guerrero should still be alive." She added, "This is the second time in a week that ICE agents have killed someone who — by their own admission — was not the subject of their operation." Harris asserted, "This cannot be acceptable in America. Anyone responsible for wrongdoing must be held accountable."
Harris's remarks quickly drew criticism from opponents who contrasted her call for an investigation with her perceived silence on murders committed by individuals who are in the U.S. illegally. Critics pointed to the deaths of Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia, and Rachel Morin, a mother in Maryland, who were allegedly killed by undocumented immigrants. Some social media users expressed frustration, with one writing, "I will start giving a f--k about the illegals killed by ICE when Democrats start giving a f--k about Americans killed by illegals."
During a 2024 interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, Harris described the deaths of Riley and Morin as "tragic cases" and stated she could not imagine the pain of their families.
This incident follows a separate fatal ICE shooting in Houston involving Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who, according to DHS, also attempted to ram federal officers with his vehicle. Harris had issued a statement offering prayers for Araujo's family and joining their call for an investigation.
The administration has faced scrutiny over border security, with federal officials estimating that approximately 2 million known "gotaways" have entered the U.S. undetected during the Biden administration. ICE agents have also recently been instructed to end most vehicle stops as part of a policy shift. Méxican immigration attorney Hugo Balderas-Ibarra, who represents passengers who were in a van when Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was fatally shot by ICE, has accused the agency of racial profiling in that incident.