Thugs out on the street’: ICE shooting victim’s family lawyer to sue US government – WGME

The family of a Colombian man killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Biddeford, Maine, is filing a lawsuit against the U.S. government. The legal action follows a shooting incident involving the victim and federal agents, according to reporting from WGME.

The lawsuit centers on the death of the Colombian national, whose family alleges the use of excessive force by the ICE agent. The attorney representing the family stated in an interview with WGME that the government is being sued for the wrongful death of the man.

The legal representative for the family characterized the situation as one where the government failed to protect the individual, using the phrase "Thugs out on the street" to describe the conduct of the agents involved, as reported by WGME.

Legal Claims and Allegations in the Biddeford Shooting

The lawsuit seeks damages and accountability for the shooting that occurred in Biddeford. According to the family’s attorney, the legal filing will challenge the necessity of the lethal force used by the ICE agent during the encounter.

The case focuses on the operational conduct of ICE agents during the execution of their duties in Maine. The family’s legal team intends to scrutinize the circumstances leading up to the discharge of the weapon and whether the agent’s actions complied with federal use-of-force policies.

Under federal law, lawsuits against the U.S. government for the actions of its employees are typically filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). This process requires the claimants to first file an administrative claim with the relevant agency—in this case, the Department of Homeland Security—before proceeding to federal court if the claim is denied or ignored.

Context of ICE Operations and Use of Force

ICE agents operate under specific guidelines regarding the use of force, which generally dictate that lethal force may only be used when an agent believes there is an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to themselves or others. The lawsuit will likely hinge on whether the agent’s perception of threat was reasonable given the facts of the incident.

The shooting of a foreign national by federal agents often triggers reviews by the Department of Justice or the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility to determine if civil rights violations occurred or if agency protocols were breached.

This case adds to a broader legal discourse regarding the transparency of ICE operations and the legal protections afforded to non-citizens during enforcement actions. The outcome of the litigation may depend on the availability of body-worn camera footage or witness testimony from the scene in Biddeford.