Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot and killed a 26-year-old migrant from Colombia during an operation in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday morning. Horrifying footage from the scene shows agents handcuffing the man as he lay mortally wounded on the ground.
Witnesses reported that the man, whose name has not been publicly released, was the target of an ICE operation and allegedly accelerated his vehicle toward agents who were attempting to arrest him. One agent then fired shots through the front windshield, striking the driver in the head. He died on the sidewalk in front of his young daughter, who witnesses said was wearing Bluey pajamas.
"I tried to stop," were reportedly the migrant's final words to the ICE officers. Another witness stated the car appeared to be moving slowly in circles after the shooting, suggesting the driver may have been leaning on the accelerator while incapacitated.
Authorities confirmed the man had an order of removal but also possessed a work authorization permit and a Social Security number. Maine Senator Angus King stated that the individual had an outstanding warrant for his arrest at the time of the incident. It remains unclear why ICE was seeking to arrest him.
The Office of the Maine Attorney General confirmed agents opened fire when the man "attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of the officer." Security footage from a local laundromat showed the vehicle rolling into an intersection after the shooting, leading one witness to believe the driver was no longer alive when the car began to move.
Images from the scene depicted multiple bullet holes in the windshield of the white Kia sedan the migrant was driving. Other images showed ICE agents and law enforcement officers consoling each other in the aftermath.
Locals reported that ICE had a noticeable presence in the town for about a week leading up to the incident. The shooting quickly sparked protests, with demonstrators gathering outside the office of Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, who expressed being "deeply disturbed and angry" by the news and called for a full investigation.
This incident follows a recent fatal shooting of a Mexican immigrant by an ICE agent during a traffic stop in Houston and previous fatal shootings of anti-ICE protesters in Minnesota, compounding scrutiny on the agency's operations.