Relatives of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who fatally shot a Colombian national in Maine this week say the officer should never have been entrusted with a badge and gun, according to interviews with The Associated Press. The officer, David Brouillette, an Army veteran, had struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood, close family members told the AP.
The shooting of Johan Sebastián Guerrero on Monday in Biddeford has ignited a political firestorm on Capitol Hill. Democratic lawmakers are demanding the Department of Homeland Security explain how it vets and trains immigration enforcement officers, especially as the agency rapidly expands its ranks under President Trump’s crackdown.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, said the officer’s mental health history “directly call into question the supposed vetting and training ICE does of its recruits.” He added, “This senseless tragedy must be investigated and the officer responsible should be taken off our streets and face justice for his actions.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused the Trump administration and congressional Republicans of prioritizing a hiring spree at ICE without adequate safeguards. “The Trump administration rushed 12,000 agents onto our streets without ensuring they were fit to carry a badge and a gun — and Republicans gave this rogue agency vast power and no accountability,” Schumer told the AP. “They empowered ICE. Now they must work with us to prevent more killings.”
ICE has been expanding its workforce amid the president’s immigration crackdown, offering signing bonuses to attract thousands of new officers. The agency’s rapid growth has drawn scrutiny, particularly after two fatal ICE shootings in a week fueled demands for independent oversight.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, called for an “impartial investigation” into the Biddeford shooting. “While the investigation of the Biddeford shooting is not yet complete, it raises sufficient critical questions that I spoke with DHS Secretary Mullin last night and urged him to cease all non-urgent vehicle stops,” she said in a statement.
President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin have defended ICE in the wake of the incident. DHS temporarily halted traffic stops after the shooting, but Trump quickly called for the practice to be reinstated. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday that the president and Mullin are on the same page regarding the practice. Trump has defended ICE traffic stops amid the deadly shootings, rejecting calls for reform.
The controversy comes as Rep. Magaziner slammed Mullin over ICE shootings, telling him, “You’re back on the front page.” Meanwhile, the Harris County district attorney has challenged the FBI’s drug claim in another fatal ICE shooting case, adding to the pressure on the agency.
The shooting in Maine has also become a flashpoint in the state’s political landscape, where Maine Democrats face a crucial Senate primary after Platner’s exit. The incident is likely to feature prominently in upcoming debates, as Maine Democrats struggle to break through in the first Senate debate to replace Platner.
