One person killed in shooting involving federal agents in Maine, official says

One person was killed in a shooting involving federal immigration agents on Monday in Maine, the state’s top lawmaker says.

“A person was killed. ICE was involved,” House Speaker Ryan Fecteau wrote on Facebook. He said the state police are at the scene and the FBI is expected to investigate as well.

Police have called it an “active investigation” and would not confirm the death. The BBC has contacted the Department of Homeland Security and ICE for comment.

Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot a man in Texas during a vehicle stop. Officials later said the man was not the intended target.

Details regarding Monday’s incident in Biddeford, Maine are scarce. Local police said a press conference would be held later.

Maine congresswoman Chellie Pingree said on Monday she was aware “that someone was fatally shot this morning, and ICE may be involved”.

“My team and I are working to get more information and will share more as we learn it,” she wrote on X.

Maine’s governor, Janet Mills, said she had been briefed on the incident.

“I know that situations like these are frightening and alarming,” Mills said.

The incident on Monday draws renewed scrutiny on the Department of Homeland Security – which oversees ICE – lead by Markwayne Mullin.

He took over the role in March, replacing Kristi Noem after she was fired.

Noem’s departure followed a similar string of cases in which encounters involving immigration officers ended with the deaths of American citizens, including Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

The deaths of Pretti and Good came after the Trump administration announced immigration enforcement surges in Minnesota and other states.

Federal officials launched a similar operation in Maine, in January, dubbed Operation Catch of the Day.

Multiple civil rights organisations filed a lawsuit against the administration for immigration officers’ aggressive tactics during enforcement surges.