Kamala Harris Critiques ICE After Fatal Shooting

On Tuesday, former Vice President Kamala Harris spoke out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following the shooting death of a Colombian man, urging that those responsible should be “held accountable.”

Referring to the incident involving Joao Sebastian Guerrero, who was 26 and labeled by the Department of Homeland Security as an “illegal alien,” Harris noted that he “should still be alive.” Guerrero reportedly tried to escape during an ICE operation in Maine.

“This has now happened twice in just a week, where ICE agents killed someone who, according to their own statements, wasn’t even the target,” she remarked. “Guerrero is deceased, and this tragic event was witnessed by his young daughter, who was only three years old and in her pajamas.”

“This cannot be tolerated in America,” Harris added.

The former Democratic presidential candidate called for an “immediate, independent and transparent investigation” into Guerrero’s death. “Those who have done wrong must face consequences,” she emphasized.

According to DHS, ICE agents in Biddeford, Maine, were monitoring a known address of an undocumented individual who had previously been ordered deported. They stated Guerrero fled in a vehicle and, reportedly, did not pull over when pursued.

“Our officers fired their weapons due to concerns for public safety as the vehicle attempted to escape,” a DHS statement read. “The driver was hit, and despite immediate emergency services, he later died from his injuries.”

A witness, Lucas Scott, 18, recounted that police surrounded Guerrero’s car, detailing how it appeared he was trying to drive directly at an ICE officer. “The car took off and seemed to be aiming for the agent,” Scott explained, noting that the officer discharged his weapon multiple times in response.

It’s worth mentioning that Guerrero was authorized to work in the U.S. and had a valid Social Security number, as reported by a local aid organization.

The DHS Inspector General is set to investigate the incident.

Protests have begun to emerge in Maine in reaction to the shooting.

Just last week, Harris had criticized ICE regarding another shooting incident in Houston. She referred to the victim, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, as “El Mundo Entero,” meaning “the whole world.” DHS alleges he attempted to ram an ICE officer’s vehicle during a stop.

Harris expressed her outrage about the treatment under the Trump administration, stating Araujo was “shot and killed by an ICE officer on her way to work.” She extended her thoughts and prayers to his family, highlighting the profound impact on his wife and children, while reiterating the need for an immediate and transparent investigation.