Border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer accused of fatally shooting a man in Maine should never have passed the agency's vetting process if allegations of a violent history are accurate.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Homan addressed the case of ICE Officer David Brouillette, who shot and killed 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero during an operation in Biddeford, Maine. Family members have told The Associated Press that Brouillette struggled with severe mental health issues, had a history of violent behavior, and suffered a 2021 head injury that left him with cognitive deficits. Two of his ex-wives have accused him of abuse, allegations he has denied.
"I don't think he should ever have cleared vetting," Homan said, calling the incident a rare case but stressing that multiple reviews are underway. The Department of Homeland Security said Brouillette fired out of concern for public safety after Guerrero drove away from a surveillance site where plainclothes officers were monitoring a location tied to a removal target. Guerrero was not the intended subject of the operation.
Homan confirmed that the agency is scrutinizing both the vetting process for officer Brouillette and the broader training regimen for ICE personnel. "The training is under review," he noted. "And I know that the acting ICE director now, David Venturella, has added additional training, because I’m one that supports you can’t ever have too much training."
The shooting has drawn sharp criticism from immigrant advocacy groups and some lawmakers. Voto Latino is leading a coalition calling for Representative Mullin’s impeachment over detention deaths and ICE shootings, amplifying concerns about accountability within the agency.
Questions have also been raised about the speed of hiring for field officers. The Trump administration, Homan said, plans to introduce additional field training that pairs academy recruits with experienced journeymen for on-the-job learning. "This specific case, as far as the vetting, is under review by the internal affairs section," he added.
Brouillette has been placed in protective government custody, according to the Portland Press Herald, though ICE has not confirmed that claim. Officers are typically placed on administrative leave pending investigations, sworn statements, and internal affairs interviews, Homan explained.
The incident has reignited debate over ICE's operational tactics and personnel standards. Maine Democrats have rallied behind Troy Jackson in a tight Senate race against Susan Collins, and the shooting could become a flashpoint in local politics. Meanwhile, a separate case involving a CBP officer indicted for falsifying a use-of-force report underscores broader concerns about law enforcement accountability in border and immigration agencies.
Homan emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that the agency is committed to ensuring proper procedures. "There’s several things under review, right? The training is under review," he reiterated. Critics, however, argue that the case exposes systemic failures in vetting and oversight that must be addressed urgently.
