ICE Shoots Driver in Maine: What It Means for You
You are driving to work early in the morning when federal agents try to stop your car. That is what happened to Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian delivery driver in Biddeford, Maine — and he did not survive the encounter. His death is the second ICE-involved killing in less than a week, and at least the seventh since January 2025.
On Monday morning, July 14, 2026, an ICE officer shot and killed Joan Sebastian Guerrero during an immigration enforcement operation in Biddeford, Maine — a small city of about 22,000 people. Guerrero reportedly worked as a delivery driver and lived there with his wife and three-year-old daughter. ICE said agents had been watching the last known address of a person with a deportation order. When a vehicle tried to leave the scene, an officer opened fire. Guerrero was struck and later died from his injuries.
A Pattern of Deadly Enforcement
This shooting came just six days after a similar ICE-involved killing in Texas. Together, they bring the total number of people shot dead during immigration enforcement operations to at least seven since President Trump returned to office in January 2025 and launched a mass deportation campaign. Senator Angus King said he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin after the Maine shooting. King raised a specific concern: ICE agents were not wearing body cameras. That detail matters — without video, it is much harder to independently verify what happened. Dozens of protesters gathered in Biddeford within hours of the shooting.
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What This Means If ICE Comes to You
Federal agents can approach you in public or at your home. But you have rights regardless of your immigration status. Lawyers who handle deportation defense consistently advise that you do not have to open your door unless agents show a warrant signed by a judge — an administrative ICE warrant is not the same thing. If you are stopped in a car, you have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. Running from agents, however, puts you at serious physical risk, as these cases show. If you have a deportation order or a removal proceeding pending, the time to act is before agents arrive at your door — not after.
What to do
- If you have a deportation order or are in removal proceedings, contact an immigration lawyer immediately to explore options like filing a motion to reopen your case or applying for a stay of removal.
- Know your rights at the door: you do not have to let ICE in without a judicial warrant. Ask agents to slide any warrant under the door so you can read it before opening.
- If stopped in a vehicle, stay calm, keep your hands visible, and clearly state: "I am exercising my right to remain silent." Do not attempt to flee.
- Make sure a trusted person — a family member, friend, or attorney — knows your immigration status and has copies of your documents, so they can act quickly if you are detained.
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If you have an outstanding removal order, you are a priority target for ICE enforcement, and these recent shootings show how quickly a stop can turn fatal. An immigration attorney can file a motion to reopen your case or seek a stay of removal from the immigration court or the Board of Immigration Appeals — but those filings take time, so every day you wait narrows your options. Do not assume ICE will not find you; consult an immigration attorney as soon as possible to understand what legal relief, if any, is still available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ICE need a warrant to stop me in my car or on the street?
No. In public spaces — including streets and parking lots — ICE agents do not need a warrant to approach you or try to stop you. However, you have the right to remain silent and do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. Never physically resist or flee, as these cases show that can be deadly.
What is the difference between an ICE warrant and a judicial warrant?
An ICE administrative warrant (Form I-200 or I-205) is signed by an immigration officer, not a judge. It does not give agents the legal right to enter your home without your consent. A judicial warrant is signed by a federal judge and does authorize entry. You can ask agents to slide the document under the door so you can check which type it is before deciding whether to open.
I have a deportation order. Can I still do anything to stop removal?
Possibly. An immigration attorney may be able to file a motion to reopen your case if there is new evidence or a change in circumstances, or request a stay of removal to pause enforcement while your case is reviewed. These options are not guaranteed, and courts have strict deadlines — so acting quickly matters.
What should I do if a family member is detained by ICE?
Call an immigration lawyer right away. You can also call the ICE detainee locator line to find out where your family member is being held. An attorney can request an emergency bond hearing (a hearing where a judge decides whether your family member can be released while their case continues) and review whether any legal relief is available.