Maine Senator Angus King has called for local authorities to take a leading role in the investigation of a fatal shooting involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, arguing that federal investigators lack the necessary credibility to conduct an impartial inquiry.
The demand follows the death of 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a Colombian national, who was shot and killed in Maine on Sunday after ICE agents attempted to pull him over while he was driving.
According to PBS NewsHour, ICE stated that Guerrero attempted to flee and used his vehicle as a weapon, prompting the use of lethal force.
This incident marks the second fatal shooting by ICE personnel in less than a week, intensifying scrutiny on the agency's operational conduct.
The Maine shooting comes shortly after another fatal encounter involving federal immigration agents, raising questions about the consistency and safety of enforcement tactics across different jurisdictions.
The political fallout is compounded by recent reports of misconduct within ICE detention facilities.