Trump administration officials ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to suspend most roadway checkpoints following two fatal shootings within six days, according to sources close to the matter. The directive follows the deaths of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, marking at least nine deaths since the current immigration crackdown began.
ICE Checkpoint Suspension and Remaining Exceptions
The suspension of roadway checks is not a total ban. According to a source who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of law enforcement operations, exceptions remain for agents executing arrest warrants or collaborating with partner agencies.
This shift in tactics comes as the administration faces mounting criticism over the use of lethal force during immigration enforcement operations.
Did you know? The shooting of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero is the second time in less than a week that ICE used deadly force, and the ninth such death since the start of the current administration’s immigration campaign.
The Maine Shooting: Conflicting Accounts of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero’s Death
On July 14, 2026, a 26-year-old Colombian national, Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Biddeford, Maine. The incident occurred while agents were monitoring the home of a separate individual suspected of being in the U.S. illegally with a final deportation order.
The DHS stated on X that an agent fired after the driver of a vehicle attempting to leave the house tried to flee. However, Senator Angus King reported that DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told him the agent opened fire because the driver attempted to use the vehicle as a weapon against agents. Mullin further clarified that the agents were attempting to execute an arrest warrant, but not for the person who was killed.
A witness, Daniel Boucher, told reporters he heard gunfire and saw the vehicle collide with a police car. Boucher claims he heard the victim say, “I tried to stop,” and later heard the agent state, “He tried to run me over.” Video obtained by the Associated Press shows a white vehicle moving at moderate speed and making slow turns before agents extracted a lifeless body from the car.
Comparative Enforcement: Houston and Minnesota Incidents
The Maine shooting follows a similar pattern of lethal encounters. In Houston, an ICE agent shot and killed 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo after federal agents in unmarked cars chased him while he was traveling to a construction site.
| Location | Victim | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero | Surveillance of a deportation target |
| Texas | Lorenzo Salgado Araujo | Chase involving unmarked vehicles |
| Minnesota | Alex Pretti & Renee Good | Previous crackdown casualties |
Legal and Diplomatic Fallout
The death of Durán Guerrero triggered international condemnation. Colombian President Gustavo Petro called the killing a “targeted assassination” by the U.S. government on X, accusing ICE of treating the victim as an “inferior being without rights.”
Within the U.S., the Maine congressional delegation is demanding a transparent and rapid investigation. Republican Senator Susan Collins stated that the DHS Office of Inspector General is investigating the shooting in coordination with the FBI. The Maine Attorney General’s office is also conducting a probe; their initial findings suggest the driver attempted to flee toward the agent. The agent involved has been suspended.
Analysis: The lack of body-worn cameras on the agents involved in the Maine shooting has created a critical information gap, leaving the exact distance of the shooter and the necessity of the force in question.
Community Impact and Victim Profile
The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and Presente! reported that Durán Guerrero was legally authorized to work in the United States. Neighbors in Biddeford described him as a friendly figure who often visited a local laundromat with his daughter. Local business owners Sadie Dilboy and Cory Poulin noted that he was well-known in the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did ICE suspend roadway checkpoints?
The suspension followed two fatal shootings in six days, including the death of a Colombian national in Maine and a man in Houston.
Are all ICE checkpoints gone?
No. Exceptions remain for the execution of arrest warrants and joint operations with partner agencies.
Who is investigating the Maine shooting?
The DHS Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the Maine Attorney General’s office are all conducting investigations.
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