US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian man on July 13, 2026, in Biddeford, Maine, during a vehicle stop operation near an address linked to an individual with a final order of removal [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The man was legally authorized to work in the US and was not the intended target of the ICE action [3, 6, 7]. Maine Senator Angus King said, “The officers involved were not wearing body cameras. The driver was not the intended arrest target. I want to know, ‘Why are you in Maine?’” [7].
ICE agents reportedly attempted to stop the vehicle, but it tried to flee. An ICE agent fired shots due to fears for public safety, killing the driver [3, 8, 4, 9, 5, 7]. Officials said the vehicle’s attempted escape raised concerns it could be used as a weapon [1, 4, 7]. However, ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have not released body camera footage or other evidence to justify the use of lethal force [8, 10, 9, 7]. This lack of transparency has drawn criticism.
This shooting followed another fatal ICE-related incident six days earlier, on July 7, when ICE agents fatally shot a Mexican man during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The two shootings have sparked protests across Maine, Texas, Boston, and other cities against ICE tactics and the Trump administration’s immigration policies [1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 12].
Following the shootings, ICE temporarily suspended most vehicle stops nationwide on July 14 pending a review of procedures [8, 11, 9]. Donald Trump, the US president, reversed the suspension a day later, calling traffic stops “one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools” and urging agents to continue using the tactic [10, 12]. Trump said, “We must be strong, tough, and smart, and we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!” [10].
ICE arrests in Maine reportedly surged to about 70 per day by early July 2026 [8, 11]. Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau said state police and the Department of Public Safety were on the scene in Biddeford alongside ICE, and the FBI was expected to investigate [1]. US Congresswoman Chellie Pingree extended sympathy to the victim’s family and the community, saying they mourn “yet another victim” [2].
The Biddeford shooting highlights ongoing tensions around ICE enforcement methods. The agencies involved have yet to produce evidence justifying lethal force, and questions remain about use of body cameras by officers. Investigations by local and federal authorities are ongoing. The next concrete step is the FBI’s investigation into the July 13 incident, which is underway as of now [1].
