Democrats Demand Probe into ICE Officer’s Killing in Maine Amid Fresh Reports

Democratic lawmakers are urging a review of ICE hiring practices and demanding an investigation into the death of a Colombian immigrant in Maine, after media reports revealed alleged past violent and threatening behavior by the officer involved, according to his family.

The Associated Press, the Portland Press Herald and National Public Radio (NPR) reported that the officer is David Brouillette, based on information from his family. They said Brouillette has a documented history of mental health issues and has been accused of subjecting his former spouse to violent, threatening conduct.

The Guardian has not independently verified the allegations nor confirmed Brouillette’s involvement in the July 13 shooting death of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has not identified the officer. Attempts to contact him via phone have not yet been answered.

The precise circumstances of Guerrero’s killing remain unclear. The 25‑year‑old Colombian’s death has intensified criticism of ICE, just a week after another agency officer fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas.

In addition to Guerrero and Salgado, two more ICE‑related deaths occurred that week, prompting public and legislative calls for independent investigations of DHS, which has been implementing the administration’s aggressive anti‑immigrant policies. Several other individuals have been killed by federal immigration officers since the start of President Trump’s second term in early 2025.

“This senseless tragedy demands a thorough investigation, and the officer responsible should be removed from the streets and held accountable for his actions,” Thompson said in a statement.

In response to AP reporting, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the Trump administration for its rapid hiring of thousands of ICE officers to advance its mass‑deportation agenda.

Schumer, a New York Democrat, accused the Trump administration of deploying 12,000 agents “onto our streets without ensuring they were fit to bear a badge or a gun.” He added that the president and his Republican allies “granted this rogue agency sweeping power with no accountability,” arguing that neither Trump nor his party can “disavow the deadly outcomes” of this approach.

The AP reported obtaining a voicemail that Brouillette allegedly left for his ex‑wife Ashley around the time he joined ICE in late 2025.

The recording contains the line “Do I think you should have your throat cut, or should it have been done?” followed by “Yep.” NPR aired the audio on Friday.

Portland Press Herald first identified Brouillette as the alleged shooter in the Guerrero case; AP and NPR subsequently reported his identity.

Brouillette is described as a military veteran and former police officer who was hired by ICE in 2025. The Atlantic reported a day after the shooting that he had been recently recruited by the agency.

DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis told the AP, “We will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers.” She added that the officer has nearly a decade of federal law enforcement experience.

Guerrero’s survivors include a three‑year‑old daughter, her mother and partner.

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