Petro calls ICE killing of Colombian a 'murder'; authorities cite 'irregular' status

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has strongly condemned the killing of a Colombian citizen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Maine, labeling the incident an "assassination."

The deceased, identified as 26-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, was shot and killed by an ICE agent on Monday. The encounter occurred amidst a broader campaign of raids and deportations targeting migrants in the United States.

U.S. immigration authorities asserted that Durán was in the country unlawfully and was subject to an immediate deportation order. However, President Petro voiced his outrage on social media platform X, stating, "What has happened in Maine is an assassination of a Latin American Colombian at the hands of the US government."

Petro, a vocal critic of U.S. immigration policies, particularly those under the previous administration, drew a parallel between this incident and his broader concerns about the treatment of migrants. The shooting has intensified scrutiny on ICE's use of force during immigration enforcement operations.

This event follows reports of ICE suspending vehicle stops for immigration enforcement, a move reportedly prompted by the deaths of two migrants, including a Mexican and a Colombian. The incident in Maine underscores the volatile and often tragic consequences of U.S. immigration enforcement.

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What has occurred in Maine is an assassination of a Latin American Colombian at the hands of the US government.