'He Was a Wonderful Son with Many Dreams to Fulfill'; Father of Colombian Murdered by ICE Speaks Out

The father of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian migrant who died during an operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Maine, has voiced his anguish and disbelief. Omar Durán described his son as a "wonderful son" with many dreams and asserted that he was a hardworking individual who was complying with U.S. immigration laws.

Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, originally from Bucaramanga, had moved to the United States seeking better opportunities and resided in Biddeford, Maine. His death during the ICE operation has sparked protests and calls for an independent investigation. According to his father, Johan possessed a work permit and was fulfilling all the requirements set by U.S. immigration authorities.

"He had his work permit. (...) He was going through the process they asked for, presenting himself as requested," Omar Durán stated in an interview with Blu Radio. He further described his son as a dedicated worker, employed at a veterinary clinic in the mornings and doing deliveries in the afternoons. "He had a lot of vision to get ahead, many dreams to fulfill, a very young person and truly my son is a wonderful son and I don't know why they did that to him, (...) he was a good person, a good person, a person raised with values," he added, his voice filled with emotion.

Omar Durán lamented that his son had left Colombia "to seek a better future for himself and his family." He emphasized Johan's responsible nature, his love for his three-year-old daughter, and his constant efforts to provide a better quality of life for them. "We believe a very big mistake was made and that our son was taken from us in an unjust way," he expressed.

The Colombian Embassy in the United States has conveyed its condolences and stated it is providing necessary consular assistance to the family. The embassy has also formally requested information and clarifications from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concerning the events that led to Durán Guerrero's death. Immigrant rights organizations have also called for a "swift, independent, and transparent" investigation, noting that the deceased reportedly had a work permit and a Social Security number.