A House Oversight Committee hearing, held by Democratic Party members, discussed multiple fatal shootings by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents during the Trump administration. One of the cases involved Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero, killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Biddeford, Maine.
Incident Details
Sean P. Murphy, the attorney for Guerrero’s family, revealed a significant detail during the hearing. The car seat belonging to Guerrero’s daughter, Dulce, cannot be returned because a bullet fired by a federal agent struck it.
Murphy recounted how Guerrero was shot while driving away from his home on July 13. Guerrero’s wife, Carolina, communicated with the Maine Attorney General’s Office, seeking clarity on why the car seat could not be returned.
“Well, because just like bullets fired by a federal agent struck and killed Joan Sebastian, a bullet fired by a federal agent struck and pierced Dulce’s car seat,” Murphy explained.
Although initial reports suggested Dulce was in the car, Murphy confirmed she was not.
Ongoing Investigation
Currently, the Maine Attorney General is investigating the use of deadly force by ICE in the state. This follows the fatal shooting of another immigrant, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, in Houston.
Additional testimonies were presented during the hearing, highlighting the broader impact of these shootings. The relatives of Renee Nicole Good, Ruben Ray Martinez, and Alex Pretti offered emotional accounts of their loss.
Statements from Families
Rachel Reyes, Martinez’s mother, detailed her son’s death on South Padre Island in March 2025. She criticized the lack of clarity regarding ICE’s involvement until recently and expressed concern about systemic issues allowing rights violations.
“What happened to my son is personal, but it should be of concern to all,” Reyes stated.
Donna Ganger, Good’s mother, conveyed her sympathy to other affected families and hoped for justice for the deceased.
During protests in Minneapolis, Pretti was killed by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. Stella Carlson, his friend, described witnessing the event.
“I watched Alex die, it all happened so fast,” Carlson recalled.
Salgado Araujo’s sons, Ronaldo and Lorenzo, shared their two-month ordeal following their father’s death in Houston. Their mother now spends her time at his memorial.
Officials’ Reaction
Democratic representatives, including Robert Garcia and Richard Blumenthal, emphasized accountability for the actions of federal agents. They critiqued the Trump administration’s handling of these incidents.
“It’s so important, for this joint committee, for there to be accountability,” Garcia stated.