DHS breaks silence on deadly ICE shooting in Maine; officer 'fearing for public safety'
The Department of Homeland Security has broken its silence on the deadly ICE shooting in Maine, stating the officer involved was "fearing for public safety" when a Colombian national was killed.
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An officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday, July 13, 2026, during an enforcement operation. The agency stated the officer discharged his weapon because he "feared for public safety" after the driver allegedly attempted to flee the scene in a vehicle during a targeted surveillance for an individual with a final removal order.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Maine Attorney General's office and the FBI, with the ICE officer involved placed on leave. Initial reports suggested the driver "weaponized" his vehicle, but Senator Angus King later clarified, citing updated information from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, that the man killed was not the intended target of the warrant.
This marks the second fatal shooting by an ICE officer within a week and at least the ninth since President Donald Trump initiated his immigration crackdown. The lack of body cameras on the agents involved has also raised concerns.
What each outlet emphasizes
- CNN: reports DHS breaks silence on deadly ICE shooting in Maine, saying officer was ‘fearing for public safety’.
- BBC: states a Colombian national was killed by an ICE agent during an operation in Maine.
- AP: emphasizes the ICE officer who fatally shot a driver in Maine was 'fearing for public safety,' according to the agency.
Read it at the source
washingtonpost.com ↗ cbsnews.com ↗ opb.org ↗ rdnewsnow.com ↗ straitstimes.com ↗