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Rep. Marc Malon is a Biddeford native serving his second term in the Maine House of Representatives.
On Aug. 17, Rep. Chellie Pingree organized a shadow congressional field hearing about the death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, who was killed in broad daylight in Biddeford by an ICE agent last month. The hearing opened with heartbreaking words from Johan’s parents, who demonstrated a level of courage I pray I never have to.
During a trip to Maine this week, Vice President JD Vance callously downplayed the shooting, saying that it’s important to “have a little bit of perspective.” As a state representative for Biddeford, I’ll take him up on that and offer mine.
The hearing made certain facts clear:
First, Johan was here legally. He had a pending asylum claim and a valid work permit, and ICE has confirmed he was not the target of their enforcement action that day. There was no removal order for him.
Second, it is a civil offense to be in the United States illegally — not a criminal one. Either way, it does not justify being shot in the middle of a busy intersection.
Third, there is an ongoing investigation led by Maine officials. This investigation must be allowed to proceed, and the federal government should fully cooperate with it.
The hearing also made clear to me that Johan would be alive if not for the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda, a cruel policy with arbitrary quotas that poorly trained ICE agents are pushed to meet. I believe this policy and ICE’s reckless actions — including last winter’s grotesquely-named “Operation Catch of the Day” — have made us all less safe.
As the Department of Homeland Security has made mass deportation its top priority, resources which were dedicated to other important public safety functions have been diverted to ICE. A report just released by the DHS Office of the Inspector General highlights a significant decrease in efforts to fight fentanyl trafficking since this shift in priorities took place.
I believe this rogue agency, which has violated numerous court orders and overseen needless deaths, needs to be shut down and its legitimate functions shifted to other departments with appropriate oversight. I support enforcing the law but ICE’s activities are poor law enforcement.
In the Maine Legislature, we’ve passed several bills that aim to protect immigrant Mainers, including LD 2106, which provides clarity for employees at public schools, state health facilities and state libraries on what to do if they encounter ICE, and LD 1971, which prohibits Maine law enforcement agencies from engaging in federal immigration enforcement while still enabling them to work with federal officials on matters important to public safety, such as human or drug trafficking.
It is heartbreaking to know that these laws could not prevent what happened to Johan, but they affirm our commitment to do everything in our power to ensure that every person in Maine receives due process.
Johan’s death has left a permanent mark on Biddeford. While no place is immune from crime, Biddeford is a safe place to live. It also is a city built by immigrants since its founding in the 1600s. As the textile industry grew and the population of the city boomed, a wave of French-speaking immigrants came from Quebec and, along with workers from Turkey and Albania, made this community their home, powering the regional economy.
As chair of the Legislature’s Franco-American Caucus, I note the importance of this history. Many of the arguments made against these immigrants echo arguments you hear today against new Mainers. In 1924, the Ku Klux Klan attempted to march into Biddeford to harass Franco-American Catholics, but they were met on the bridge by citizens of all backgrounds organized by Mayor Edward Drapeau, and they turned tail and fled. This incident took place next to what is now Mechanics Park, where ongoing protests have been staged in the wake of Johan’s death.
I am glad members of Congress came to Biddeford. This incident has shown the world what Biddeford residents have always known: That we are a strong community built by immigrants where people look out for each other.
Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was 25, and had a beloved partner and a 3-year-old daughter. He worked multiple jobs to support his family like many of our forebearers did. Local residents and business owners knew him for his positive attitude and work ethic. He was pursuing the American dream that so many fought for.
His family deserves answers and accountability. In the meantime, Biddeford will continue to surround them and their neighbors with love and support — because that is who we are.