Harris Denounces ICE Following Fatal Shooting of Colombian Man

Former Vice President Kamala Harris spoke out on Tuesday against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after agents fatally shot a Colombian man during an operation in Maine. This incident has drawn criticism, especially when compared to her previous silence regarding other high-profile deaths of undocumented immigrants.

Harris is calling for an “immediate, independent and transparent investigation” into the shooting of 26-year-old Joao Sebastian Guerrero. Guerrero was shot on Monday while trying to escape ICE agents in his vehicle; they were conducting an operation aimed at undocumented immigrants who had received removal orders, as stated by the Department of Homeland Security.

Harris declared, “Joao Sebastian Guerrero should still be alive. This is the second incident in a week where ICE agents have killed someone who they admit was not the target of the operation. Now, his 3-year-old daughter witnessed his death.”

In her remarks, she emphasized, “This is unacceptable in America. Whoever is responsible for the wrongdoing must be held accountable.” However, these comments have provoked backlash, with critics highlighting her leadership role in the Biden administration’s approach to the migration crisis, often referred to as the “border czar.”

Since taking office, U.S. authorities estimate that roughly 2 million known “fugitives” have made unlawful entries into the U.S. and evaded arrest. According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE agents were surveilling Guerrero’s last known address in Biddeford, Maine, when he allegedly tried to flee after they attempted to contact him. They claimed that in pursuit of public safety, the officers discharged their weapons during the vehicle’s escape.

Heartbreakingly, Guerrero’s fate was sealed as he eventually succumbed to his injuries. Witness accounts suggest that he drove toward federal agents before being shot. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed that Guerrero was not the intended target of that operation, yet the department has stated that he entered the U.S. unlawfully in September 2023 and was granted a work permit in May 2025. It remains unclear if he was seeking asylum at the time.

Amid this turmoil, many have pointed out that Harris’s vocal response to Guerrero’s death contrasts sharply with her silence over the deaths of Americans killed by undocumented individuals. Critics have brought up incidents involving victims like Georgia nursing student Laken Riley and Maryland mother Rachel Morin, both killed by illegal immigrants. Some on social media remarked, “If Democrats start blaming Americans killed by illegal aliens, I’ll start blaming illegal aliens killed by ICE.”

During previous highs in these discussions, Harris had not openly mourned the deaths of those Americans until she faced questioning from Fox News host Bret Baier in October 2024. Here, she acknowledged the tragedies, stating, “I can’t imagine the pain the victim’s family has gone through over a loss that shouldn’t have happened.” These losses became rallying points for Republicans in the 2024 presidential election, as they called for stricter immigration controls.

Moreover, advocates for tougher immigration policies, like the Angell family—who lost relatives to violence from undocumented immigrants—frequently appear alongside prominent Republican figures to highlight the crimes committed by those without legal status in the country.

Harris’s comments follow a similar statement she made after the recent fatal ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. Harris expressed her condolences for his family and called for a thorough investigation into that incident as well.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Harris and the White House for further comments.