Man killed by immigration agent during operation in Maine, official says

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Man killed by immigration agent during operation in Maine, official says Image source, Getty ImagesByBrandon Drenon and Max MatzaPublished13 July 2026Updated 1 hour agoAn ICE agent has fatally shot a motorist in the US state of Maine, a week after an undocumented migrant was killed by a federal immigration officer during a traffic stop in Texas. In the latest incident, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said agents were watching an address for a person with a final order of removal in Biddeford at around 07:00 EDT (11:00 GMT) on Monday. When ICE tried to stop a vehicle driven by someone coming from that address, "the vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon", ICE said, adding that "the driver of the vehicle was struck".

A 26-year-old Colombian man was shot, immigrant advocates say. Image source, Getty ImagesICE did not share details on why the officer feared for safety. Maine's top prosecutor said the incident involved an officer from ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations department, and the agent has been placed on leave pending an investigation.

The Details

Initial statements indicate "the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of the officer and was fatally shot", said Maine's Attorney General Aaron Frey, a Democrat. The name of the deceased man is not being released until he is formally identified and his family are notified, the statement added. The inspector general's office for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, is taking over the investigation, according to Senator Susan Collins, a Republican representing Maine.

Fellow Maine Senator Angus King, a political independent, said he was initially told by DHS chief Markwayne Mullin that the person who was shot dead was a target of an arrest warrant in an immigration operation. But hours later, King said Mullin called him to say the man was actually not the target of a warrant, his office told the . According to the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition, the person who was killed was a 26-year old Colombian man who was authorised to work in the US.

"He was a member of our community, a neighbor, and a human being whose life was cut tragically short," the organisation said in a statement, which did not name the man. "We extend our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and everyone now grieving this unimaginable loss. "Protests broke out in Biddeford, 18 miles (30km) south of Portland, following the shooting.

Others gathered outside the entrance of Collins' office, to protest against her vote to fund ICE. The senator has called for a "full and impartial investigation of what happened". Image source, ReutersImage source, Getty ImagesOne witness told the Biddeford Gazette, external that at around 07:20 local time, he saw lights flashing from an unmarked white SUV, and "at least two officers wearing green ICE vests".

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.