Trump Administration Official Fatally Shoots Immigrant in Maine, Marking 11th Such Death
Controversy surrounding the immigration enforcement operations of US President Donald Trump’s administration has resurfaced after a federal officer fatally shot a man in the state of Maine. The incident occurred just days after another deadly shooting by an immigration officer in Texas, sparking public protests and demands for an independent investigation into the actions of the authorities.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that a federal immigration officer shot and killed a man in the city of Biddeford, Maine, on Monday (13/7/2026) local time. In a statement, the DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were conducting surveillance at the last known address of an immigrant who had reportedly received a final deportation order.
The DHS stated that an “illegal immigrant” left the house under surveillance in a vehicle. Officers then attempted to stop the vehicle. According to the DHS, the vehicle tried to flee, prompting an officer to open fire. “The vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, out of concern for public safety, an officer discharged their firearm,” the DHS statement read, as reported by The Guardian.
However, it was later revealed that the man who died was not the primary target of the law enforcement operation. Maine Senator Angus King told CNN that the victim was not the subject of the ICE operation, correcting his own earlier statement made at a press conference. Local immigrant rights groups identified the victim as a 26-year-old Colombian national.
This incident is the latest fatal shooting involving federal immigration officers amid the Trump administration’s aggressive policy of arresting and deporting immigrants across the United States. The DHS has repeatedly claimed that victims of ICE shootings used their vehicles as weapons. However, in several previous cases, video footage later cast doubt on the government’s official version of events.
King also stated that the ICE officers involved in the Maine incident were not wearing body cameras. He added that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would lead the investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the Maine Attorney General’s office stated it was also “actively investigating” the fatal shooting.
The shooting occurred around 7.20 a.m. local time. A witness interviewed by the Portland Press Herald said he heard sounds he initially thought were fireworks from outside his home in Biddeford, a city of about 22,000 people located roughly 24 kilometres south of Portland and about 145 kilometres north of Boston. Looking out the window, he saw an SUV attempting to ram a small white car at an intersection. Shortly afterwards, officers wearing tactical vests stopped the vehicle and pulled out the driver, who was already covered in blood. “He was still talking. He said, ‘I tried to stop,’” the witness told the Press Herald. The witness said he then saw the victim’s legs stop moving as he lay on the road.
Another witness interviewed by the Biddeford Gazette said at least two ICE officers in green vests surrounded the white sedan that had stopped at the intersection. According to the witness, the officers were shouting very loudly before at least four gunshots were heard. Social media was also flooded with photos and videos allegedly showing the moments of the incident. One photo showed the vehicle’s windscreen riddled with bullet holes. In a video released by the Press Herald, a small sedan is seen slowly spinning while several men chase it, trying to open the car doors. It is not yet known whether the video was recorded before or after the shooting. Another video shows officers attempting to pull the victim’s limp body from the car before handcuffing him, while other footage shows federal agents and local police surrounding the victim as he lay on the ground, administering medical aid.
The victim’s identity has not yet been officially released. However, conflicting reports have emerged regarding his immigration status. Immigrant rights groups claim the victim had legal work authorisation in the United States and had obtained a social security number. Conversely, NewsNation, citing sources, reported that the victim had received a final deportation order. Senator Angus King said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also stated the man had indeed been issued a deportation order.
The shooting in Maine marks the eleventh person killed by federal immigration officers since Donald Trump began his second term as president. This case is also the fifth of those eleven incidents to occur while the victim was driving a vehicle. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who is running in the Democratic Party primary for a US Senate seat, highlighted the figure. “It is time for ICE to be removed from our streets,” Bellows wrote on the platform X. Several other Democratic politicians issued similar calls. Former Maine State Senator Troy Jackson said his team was closely monitoring the developments of the case. “I have received information regarding the fatal shooting by ICE in Biddeford this morning,” Jackson wrote on X. “Our team is monitoring this situation very closely and will provide updates as we learn more. My heart is with Biddeford and all of Maine.”