Colombian man identified by NGOs shot dead by ICE agent in US

A U.S. immigration agent fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday. Human rights organizations identified the victim and stated he had a work permit in the United States. The incident occurred during an operation related to a final deportation order.

The office of the Maine attorney general reported that the agent was carrying out the deportation operation when the subject attempted to flee in a vehicle, driving towards the officer. The agent was placed on administrative leave, and the FBI announced it is investigating the events. A witness told local media that he heard at least four shots after seeing ICE agents surround a white vehicle.

Organizations including the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition and Presente Maine identified the victim as a 26-year-old Colombian. Crystal Cron, executive director of Presente Maine, stated, "We will not let this death be reduced to a footnote in this administration's law enforcement statistics." Images from the scene showed a police perimeter and a forensic vehicle near a red store. Protesters gathered with signs reading, "Out ICE."

Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain issued a statement saying, "A person has died, and their loved ones and the people of our community deserve clear answers about what happened." The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, had no immediate comment. The incident follows a similar event in Texas last week where an agent shot a Mexican resident; authorities claimed the man tried to run over an agent with his vehicle, a version disputed by witnesses.