Former Vice President Kamala Harris has called for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of a Colombian national by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during an operation in Maine, a move that has reignited criticism over her past silence on high-profile murders committed by illegal immigrants. Harris took to social media Tuesday to condemn the death of 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero, who was shot Monday after allegedly fleeing ICE officers in a vehicle in Biddeford. The incident occurred while agents were conducting surveillance targeting an illegal immigrant with a final order of removal, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
«Joan Sebastian Guerrero should still be alive,» Harris wrote on X. «This is the second time in a week that ICE agents have killed someone who — by their own admission — was not the subject of their operation. Now Sebastian is dead, his killing witnessed by his three-year-old daughter wearing her Bluey pajamas.» She added that such actions «cannot be acceptable in America» and that «anyone responsible for wrongdoing must be held accountable.» The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Guerrero was not the intended target of the operation but stated that he had illegally crossed the border under the Biden administration in September 2023 and was granted a work permit in May 2025, noting that work authorization does not confer legal status.
Harris’s comments quickly drew sharp backlash online, with many critics pointing to her role as the Biden administration’s point person on addressing root causes of migration from Central America — a position Republicans frequently labeled as the «border czar.» During the Biden administration, federal officials estimated that roughly 2 million known «gotaways» entered the U.S. after crossing the border illegally and avoiding capture. Critics argued that Harris and other leading Democrats have been far less vocal in publicly mourning Americans killed by illegal immigrants than in condemning ICE enforcement actions. Some cited the 2024 death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed by Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra, and Maryland mother Rachel Morin, who was raped and murdered by Salvadoran illegal immigrant Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez.
Unlike in the Guerrero case, Harris did not make a social media post paying tribute to Riley or Morin at the time of their deaths. She did not publicly acknowledge those tragedies until pressed by Fox News host Bret Baier in an October 2024 interview, where she called them «tragic cases» and expressed sympathy for the families. The deaths of Riley and Morin became flashpoint issues for Republicans during the 2024 presidential campaign and have fueled ongoing calls for stronger immigration enforcement. Social media users also highlighted «angel families» — relatives of Americans killed by illegal immigrants who have become prominent advocates for border security, often appearing alongside President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers.
The Maine shooting is the second fatal ICE incident in a week. Harris also posted last week after a separate shooting in Houston involving Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, whom DHS said attempted to ram federal officers with his vehicle during a traffic stop. «Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s family called him ‘El mundo entero’ — the whole world,» Harris wrote. «Doug and my prayers are with Lorenzo’s wife, his three sons, and all those who loved and knew him. I join his son Ronaldo in calling for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation.»
According to DHS, ICE officers were conducting surveillance Monday morning at the last known address of an illegal immigrant with a final order of removal in Biddeford when Guerrero allegedly fled in a vehicle after officers attempted to make contact. «The vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon,» the department said. «The driver of the vehicle was struck, and emergency services were immediately contacted. He passed away from his injuries.» An eyewitness told Maine’s Portland Press Herald that Guerrero appeared to drive toward federal agents before shots were fired. The incident has intensified debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the political responses to deaths involving illegal immigrants.