Governor Mills calls for ICE reform

Governor Janet Mills says ICE needs to be reformed, and if it can’t be reformed, it needs to be abolished.

Following Monday’s fatal shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 26, of Biddeford, by a federal immigration enforcement officer, Mills has written a letter to the federal delegation. Durán Guerrero was authorized to work in the United States, had a social security number, and was reportedly not the person ICE was targeting.

“Like people across Maine, I am heartbroken and I am furious - not simply at the violent death of a young father on his way to work on a quiet street in Biddeford, but at the callous and unregulated show of force by federal agents in neighborhoods across this country, prompted by questionable numerical quotas and political gamesmanship unrelated to public safety,” said Mills in the letter.

In the letter, Mills states that despite promising to deport only “the worst of the worst,” or those who pose a threat to human safety, the current administration is targeting all immigrants “with a carelessness and cruelty that ignores due process and that ignites terror in communities nationwide.”

“Instead of making us safer, all too often federal agents are creating situations that put people in all neighborhoods in every state in danger, including cities like Biddeford - a community where a hundred fifty years ago immigrants from Ireland and Canada came to work and raise their families, and where new Mainers now work and look to find peace and opportunity in our state,” said Mills.

She said earlier this year, Congress considered reforms to ICE, but they were rejected.

“Now, with Congress' rejection of strong accountability measures and with a Supreme Court ruling that allows the deportation of non-criminals escaping violence and disaster in war-torn countries, ICE is further emboldened to continue its behavior,” wrote Mills.

“ICE needs to be fundamentally reformed, and if not, then it is time to abolish it,” wrote the Governor.

Mills came to Biddeford today, and was joined by Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain and State Rep. Ryan Fecteau at a press conference in City Hall.

“I wanted to come here and express my condolences to the city, to the community, to the members of the legislature who are here and who are very concerned -rightly so- about the safety of people who live here,” said Mills.

LaFountain thanked Mills for coming to Biddeford, sharing her condolences, meeting with immigration advocates, keeping an open line of communication with Biddeford officials, and including Duran Guerrero’s family in discussions.

“Biddeford is a city that’s been built by immigrants,” he said. Biddeford became home to many Franco Americans and Irish Americans in the 1800s when the mills were booming.

“We are still a global city,” he said. “We’re working to make sure all immigrants are safe here.

“We’re tight knit, we’re good neighbors to one another. We’re going to continue to be good neighbors to one another, we’re going to continue to be welcoming to people who want to call this city home,” said Fecteau. “We are a community that works together, that looks out for one another, and that’s not going to change.”

LaFountain said he has spoken with members of Durán Guerrero’s family, and they wanted to remain private.

LaFountain also issued a written statement today. He said Senator Susan Collins had called him on Tuesday and told him that ICE had been instructed to halt its traffic stops.

“I appreciated the call, and I want that ban to be permanent, not a temporary public relations move by ICE,” he said.

LaFountain said he agreed with the Governor and the federal delegation that state law enforcement should be involved in the investigation.

“Maine people trust Maine law enforcement,” he said.

LaFountain said the lack of body cameras on the ICE agents Monday morning is unacceptable.

“In Biddeford, our police officers are fully equipped with body cameras. The department's annual budget is less than $10 million, and they’ve had these cameras in the field for almost a decade. The fact that ICE is swimming in billions of taxpayer dollars and can’t perform a basic function like properly equipping its people is a severe indictment. Corrective action is required immediately, as both Senator Collins and Senator King have made clear,” he said.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.