Maine Democrats unite to abolish ICE after Biddeford shooting
Every Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Maine—including Ashley Webb—united behind abolishing or defunding ICE days after federal agents fatally shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford. At Thursday's Voice of the Voter debate, all hopefuls demanded agency elimination or sweeping reforms such as body cameras, badge requirements, and ending agent immunity.
The killing shifted the snap primary to replace Graham Platner and reframed the contest against Republican Sen. Susan Collins around immigration enforcement just days after the Biddeford incident.
Key Takeaways
- All Democratic Senate candidates at Thursday's debate called to eliminate or defund ICE after the Biddeford shooting.
- Ashley Webb said ICE officers should not walk away after shootings and supported defunding the agency.
- Candidates also backed body cameras, visible badges, mask bans, and stripping agent immunity.
- The debate came three days after Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was killed during an ICE operation.
- Democrats are competing to replace Graham Platner and challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
What happened in Biddeford before the Maine Senate debate?
Three days before the first Democratic U.S. Senate debate, a federal immigration officer fatally shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero during an enforcement operation in Biddeford, according to The Washington Post. The killing quickly dominated Maine politics and shifted the race to replace Graham Platner as the party's nominee against Sen. Susan Collins.
Immigration enforcement became the central issue at Thursday night's Voice of the Voter debate, hosted days after the shooting. Moderators opened with a direct question: how would each candidate reform ICE?
How did Ashley Webb and other Democrats respond on ICE?
Every candidate vying for Maine's Democratic Senate nomination called to eliminate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the debate, the Maine Morning Star reported. In the second hour, Ashley Webb joined David Costello, Elizabeth Dickerson, and Dan Kleban in backing that stance.
Webb, a community advocate who writes songs and books, said no ICE officer should be able to walk away after shooting somebody, according to Yahoo News. She argued masks should come off and that badges and body cameras must be required. Webb said the best option would be to defund ICE and treat the agency like local departments such as Portland or Freeport police.
Former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah asked how many more people must die before ICE is abolished. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows recalled organizing before ICE existed, while former Senate President Troy Jackson called the agency rogue and linked the shooting to Collins' oversight of its funding.
What ICE reforms did candidates propose if abolition fails?
Moderators noted abolishing ICE is unlikely under President Donald Trump's administration and pressed candidates on interim reforms. There was broad agreement on requiring body cameras, banning masks, and stripping agents of immunity, Maine Morning Star reported.
Jordan Wood said ICE could not be reformed and called for a new Department of Homeland Security agency with accountability and prosecutorial oversight. David Costello backed dismantling ICE but also urged agent training standards comparable to police departments. Dan Kleban demanded judicial warrants and justice for victims including Guerrero.
Why does the shooting matter for Maine's Senate race?
The Washington Post reported that leading Democratic hopefuls are presenting themselves as fighters and using the Biddeford shooting to challenge Collins. Shah, Jackson, and others argued Collins helped bankroll ICE while failing to rein in the agency.
With delegates selecting a nominee at an upcoming convention, immigration enforcement has become a baseline litmus test in the snap primary. For voters tracking how fast-breaking political stories spread online, see more analysis in our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage.