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Every Democratic member of Massachusetts’ House delegation joined nearly 200 congressional Democrats across the country on Friday to demand independent investigations into the fatal shootings of two men by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Texas and Maine, escalating pressure on the agency after its second deadly shooting in less than a week. The request follows a letter sent Thursday by Sens. Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren to the acting director of ICE’s Boston field office demanding answers about the fatal shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. Following the second deadly shooting by ICE in less than a week, Massachusetts Democrats argued Guerrero’s death was “not an aberration” but part of a broader escalation in immigration enforcement operations. “The killings of both Mr. Guerrero and Mr. Araujo reflect a disturbing pattern: warrantless, aggressive, and indiscriminate ICE enforcement operations ending in the loss of life,” Markey and Warren wrote. They pointed to Guerrero’s death and the July 7 fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston as evidence that ICE’s recent enforcement surge has raised questions about the agency’s use-of-force practices. The House letter, signed by all nine Democratic members of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation, calls on the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to investigate both deaths. Like Markey and Warren, the lawmakers argued the shootings raise broader concerns about ICE accountability and officer conduct. The letter was signed by Reps. Richard Neal, James McGovern, Lori Trahan, Jake Auchincloss, Katherine Clark, Seth Moulton, Ayanna Pressley, Stephen Lynch and Bill Keating. Warren and Markey also asked new Acting Field Office Director David Wesling to explain the Boston field office’s role in the Biddeford operation, why agents were not equipped with body-worn cameras, whether the officers involved had a history of use-of-force incidents and what steps ICE plans to take to prevent future fatal shootings. Investigations into Guerrero’s death are being conducted by the Maine Attorney General’s Office, the FBI and ICE. Questions mount after ICE officer identified Calls for oversight intensified Thursday after The Associated Press identified the ICE officer who shot Guerrero as David Brouillette, an Army veteran whose relatives said he has a history of mental health struggles and violent behavior. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had previously criticized attempts to identify the officer, telling MassLive that efforts to confirm his identity amounted to “doxxing” a federal law enforcement agent. Doxxing is the processing of collecting and publishing sensitive information about a person typically so others will harass, publicly ridicule or hurt them, according to a “frequently asked questions” document on the Massachusetts Attorney General’s website. Following the AP report, several congressional Democrats renewed calls for reforms and independent investigations. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, called the revelations “absolutely appalling,” while Rep. Bennie Thompson, of Mississippi, the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, questioned ICE’s vetting and training practices. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Sen. Alex Padilla of California also called for greater accountability. “These cases, taken together, illustrate that the Biddeford shooting was not an aberration but part of a broader, escalating pattern of force that demands immediate scrutiny and reform,” Markey and Warren wrote. Thursday’s letter is also the latest in a broader effort by Markey to challenge ICE and DHS enforcement and surveillance practices. Since September 2025, he has introduced legislation and sent a series of letters to target facial-recognition technology, suspected databases used to track protesters, proposed “smart glasses” for immigration officers, biometric surveillance programs, aerial monitoring of protests and conditions at the ICE Burlington field office. It remains unclear whether Guerrero was the person agents sought to detain. Sen. Angus King’s office said he was not under a deportation order, CNN reported. The Maine Attorney General’s Office has said preliminary evidence indicates Guerrero was driving “in the direction of the officer” when shots were fired. But witness Daniel Boucher told the Portland Press Herald he saw Guerrero exit the vehicle while bleeding heavily and heard him say, “I tried to stop.” — Original article HERE .
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