Maine governor leaves Guerrero memorial amid protester backlash

Governor Janet Mills visited a memorial for Jorge Guerrero in Biddeford on Wednesday, but was met with chants of "Get away!" from demonstrators and was escorted to her vehicle.

Anna Parker, a spokesperson for the governor, said Mills understands the anger and pain surrounding Guerrero's death and has repeatedly urged Congress and the federal administration to curb ICE operations. She added that Mills has criticized what she described as a "reckless and haphazard manner" in immigration enforcement across the country and renewed calls for Congress to reform or abolish the agency.

Guerrero, a Colombian national who arrived in the United States three years ago, lived in Biddeford with his wife and three-year-old daughter and worked multiple jobs. The Department of Homeland Security said ICE agents were attempting to serve a deportation order at a different address, while Senator Angus King's office indicated the agency was not targeting Guerrero.

During a press briefing, Mills described the incident as "devastating" and said state law enforcement is cooperating with federal officials to determine the facts. She said she came to the site to offer condolences and urged Congress to act on accountability and training measures for immigration enforcement agents.

Protesters, including resident Kelsey Cummings, accused elected officials of ignoring community concerns about ICE activity. One demonstrator threw a pair of plastic handcuffs at Mills's SUV and warned, "Don't come back up here unless you got results!" The governor later sent a letter to Maine's congressional delegation stating that ICE must be disbanded unless significant operational changes are made.