ICE Agent with Anti-Immigrant Bias Fatally Shoots Colombian Migrant
An ICE agent with a history of racist rhetoric and mental health struggles fatally shot a Colombian migrant during a traffic stop in Maine.
A rookie Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, David Brouillette, fatally shot 25-year-old Colombian citizen Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero during an attempted traffic stop in Biddeford, Maine, on July 13. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed the vehicle attempted to flee and the officer fired fearing for public safety. However, legal representatives for Durán Guerrero state he was authorized to work in the U.S. and was not the target of the operation.
Investigations by The New York Times revealed that Brouillette had a history of anti-immigrant hostility, including 2021 emails targeting his sister's Colombian partner. Reports also indicate a history of domestic abuse, bipolar disorder, and workplace instability. Sources allege Brouillette was fast-tracked through a lenient vetting process during a hiring surge, allowing him to be deployed armed despite a background of red flags that had previously prevented his employment by the Hallowell police department.
While DHS has declined to officially name the agent, Brouillette's ex-wife and daughter confirmed his identity. DHS has defended its vetting and training standards, denying claims of substandard procedures. The shooting is currently under investigation by the Maine Attorney General and the DHS Inspector General. U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree and attorney Ben Gideon have called for the release of Brouillette's records, with Gideon characterizing the death as a predictable result of inadequate screening.
