BIDDEFORD — A person was fatally shot Monday during an enforcement action by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Biddeford, state officials said, prompting simultaneous inquiries by the Maine Attorney General’s Office and federal authorities.
What officials have confirmed
Maine Gov. Janet Mills acknowledged just before noon on Monday that someone had died in the shooting. The Attorney General’s Office issued a statement saying an Enforcement Removal Operations officer was conducting an operation related to a final order of removal when the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle in the direction of the officer and was fatally shot.
The FBI responded to the scene to assist, and Biddeford police have said the matter is not their department’s primary investigation; Chief JoAnn Fisk told reporters her department was only assisting and that the FBI and state attorney general would lead the inquiry.
Identity and context provided by advocates and lawmakers
Immigrant rights organizations identified the person as a 26-year-old native of Colombia who they said was authorized to work in the United States and held a Social Security number. Federal authorities have not confirmed those personal details.
"Different facts may come out, but apparently there are no cameras involved. Body cameras were not on the agents, and, so we have no video, evidence of what occurred in this case,"
— U.S. Sen. Angus King, who said he had spoken with the Homeland Security secretary and described the deceased as a man in his 20s.
Eyewitness account and timing
An eyewitness told reporters they heard what sounded like firecrackers at about 7:30 a.m. and saw a white SUV strike a smaller white car multiple times. That account differs from the timeline of official public statements; Gov. Mills’ acknowledgement came just before noon.
- Location: Biddeford, York County
- Date: Monday, July 13, 2026
- Agencies involved: ICE Enforcement Removal Operations, FBI, Maine Attorney General’s Office; Biddeford Police assisting
Broader concerns and next steps
Advocacy groups including the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and Presente! Maine called for transparency, describing the shooting as "devastating, enraging, and unacceptable" and demanding a full account. The killing is the latest in a series of lethal encounters involving immigration enforcement officers, drawing national scrutiny.
The Attorney General’s Office said its investigation will review use of force and surrounding circumstances; the FBI did not release additional details. Federal officials with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE had not provided further comment as of Monday afternoon.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Victim (per advocates) | 26-year-old man from Colombia |
| Official status | Subject of a final order of removal (per AG statement) |
| Investigations | Maine AG’s Office and FBI |
Community leaders and local officials said they will await the outcomes of the official probes before drawing conclusions. For now, residents in the downtown Biddeford area and immigrant communities across the state are seeking clarity about the circumstances and whether departmental policies — including the use of body-worn cameras during federal enforcement — applied in this case.
News Block will continue to monitor updates from the Maine Attorney General’s Office, the FBI and federal agencies and will publish further developments as they become available.
