Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday called for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of a Colombian national by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Maine, a move that quickly reignited criticism over her handling of border security during the Biden administration. The shooting occurred Monday in Biddeford, Maine, when ICE officers conducting surveillance at the last known address of an illegal immigrant with a final removal order attempted to make contact with a vehicle. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the driver, identified as 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero, fled the scene, prompting an officer to discharge his weapon out of concern for public safety. Guerrero died from his injuries.
Harris wrote on X that Guerrero should still be alive, noting that this was the second time in a week that ICE agents had killed someone who was not the subject of their operation. She described the incident as unacceptable in America and called for accountability for any wrongdoing. Guerrero's three-year-old daughter reportedly witnessed the shooting while wearing her Bluey pajamas, a detail Harris highlighted in her statement. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed that Guerrero was not the intended target of the operation, though the department later stated that Guerrero had crossed the border illegally in September 2023 under the Biden administration. He was granted a work permit in May 2025, but DHS emphasized that work authorization does not confer legal status.
The former vice president's comments drew sharp backlash online, with many critics pointing to her role as the Biden administration's border czar, a position Republicans frequently used to criticize her oversight of migration from Central America. During the Biden era, federal officials estimated that roughly 2 million known gotaways entered the U.S. after crossing the border illegally and avoiding capture. Critics argued that Harris and other leading Democrats have been far less vocal in mourning Americans killed by illegal immigrants than in condemning ICE enforcement actions. They cited cases such as the 2024 murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley by Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra and the rape and murder of Maryland mother Rachel Morin by Salvadoran illegal immigrant Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez.
Harris did not make public social media posts about Riley or Morin at the time of their deaths. When pressed by Fox News host Bret Baier in an October 2024 interview, she described those cases as tragic and expressed sympathy for the families, but she did not address the broader immigration enforcement questions. The deaths of Riley and Morin became flashpoint issues for Republicans during the 2024 presidential campaign and have continued to fuel calls for stricter border security. Angel families, relatives of Americans killed by illegal immigrants, have become prominent advocates for stronger enforcement, frequently appearing alongside President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers.
This is not the first time Harris has called for an investigation into an ICE shooting. In July, she made a similar demand after a fatal incident in Houston involving Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, whom DHS said attempted to ram federal officers with his vehicle during a traffic stop. Harris expressed condolences to Araujo's family and called for an independent probe. The pattern of Harris's responses has drawn attention to the broader debate over immigration enforcement and the balance between public safety and the treatment of individuals in the country illegally.
An eyewitness to the Maine shooting told the Portland Press Herald that Guerrero appeared to drive toward federal agents before shots were fired. DHS has not released further details about the incident, and the investigation is ongoing. The White House and Harris's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and enforcement, particularly as the Trump administration continues to push for tighter border controls and increased deportations.
