đź“°BIDDEFORD | Despite the pain, Biddeford remains a beacon of hope and opportunity
- Jul 30
- 4 min read
~Featured Monthly Column~
By Senator Henry Ingwersen, District 32
"My heart goes out to Johan's family and to the beautiful, diverse and welcoming Biddeford community I am so proud to serve. Together, with love and action, we can rise above the violence and move toward a more just and peaceful future for everyone."
July 30, 2026, There's a weight on me as I try to go about my life here at home today, harvesting honey, making our new dog Birdie feel at home and now writing this monthly column. Not a moment goes by when I don't think about the unnecessary, fatal shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero. Like so many of you, I am sad and angry — and often feel helpless. Johan was a husband, father and community member, bringing daily joy into the lives of his family, co-workers and community. He should be alive today.
While there is still much to learn about what happened, it is once again clear that ICE is operating with little respect for due process and public safety. This senseless violence must stop — from Maine to Texas and everywhere in between.
Let me be clear about where I stand: This recent killing in Biddeford demonstrates that the ICE policies created in this current federal administration are wrong and broken. Insufficient training for recruits, the inexcusable lack of body cameras and the lack of clear guidelines on the use of force involving vehicles have convinced me that the ICE incursion into Maine communities must end. It has only made our communities less safe and more fearful.
Indeed, ICE’s conduct strikes fear into the heart of every asylum seeker, immigrant and refugee, hindering their ability to live, study, work and worship in our communities. In the months since the shamefully-named “Operation Catch of the Day,” and especially now since Johan was killed, many of our legally present neighbors are too afraid to leave their homes — even for shopping or jobs. It is wrong that they cannot simply go about their daily lives, constantly having to worry about things many of us take for granted, like getting into a car or going to the grocery store.
I have little trust in the federal government’s ability to investigate itself. That is why a full, transparent and independent investigation — conducted by the Maine Attorney General’s Office as the lead state agency — is essential. I am glad to hear that one is already underway.
Biddeford is a city built by immigrants — Irish, French Canadians, Russians, Lithuanians, Poles and Albanians. Their history is our history, and we all have benefited — and continue to benefit — from their contributions. Today’s generation of new Mainers that Johan was a part of work, pay taxes and open exciting new businesses. We are a community of immigrants, a state of immigrants and a nation of immigrants. Past, present and future.
Because of this legacy, despite the pain, Biddeford remains a beacon of hope and opportunity. It was fitting that the mill buildings and iconic smokestack, built in part by these immigrant families, stood as a backdrop to the vigil for Johan.
During dark times like these, we are vulnerable to giving in to feelings of despair and hopelessness. While these feelings are real, a few new State laws that I helped to pass took effect on July 29. While these laws may not have prevented this tragedy, they reflect our state’s commitment to protecting our neighbors from having their rights and safety violated in the situations the State of Maine has legal authority over. One new law places reasonable limits on state and local law enforcement participating in federal immigration enforcement activity.
Another ensures that people of all immigration statuses can feel safe in their homes. It prohibits landlords from sharing a tenant’s personal information unless it is needed for a valid legal or business process. This law will also protect landlords from being pressured, bullied or harassed into providing private tenant information.
Finally, a third law limits ICE agents’ access to sensitive locations like public schools, State healthcare facilities and state libraries. Unless ICE presents valid judicial warrants, staff at these covered locations can deny ICE access to the facility.
For more details on any of these “ICE Out of Maine” laws, check out the ACLU of Maine’s website here.
While the grief and anger are still with us, the Biddeford community and the rest of Maine are organizing and eager to help. As I heard loud and clear at the recent Biddeford City Council meeting, we must meet this sadness, anger and fear with action. For now, for today, here is a list of resources if you want to help:
There is a GoFundMe to support the family.
Project Relief is providing legal (and other) resources and support to Johan’s family - Donate here
Maine Immigration Rights Coalition (MIRC) operates an Immigrant Defense Hotline (207-544-9989), which people can use to report ICE-related activity in their community.
Presente! Maine has a list of resources, including the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP), LighthouseME, and the Maine Solidarity Fund.
We Cry Out is holding a benefit concert for the Guerrero family and Project Relief at Sacred Profane Brewery on July 30.
On Fridays, Biddeford-Saco for Racial Justice organizes weekly rallies at Mechanics Park (the corner of Main and Water Streets).
Better Biddeford is a great resource, too.
My heart goes out to Johan's family and to the beautiful, diverse and welcoming Biddeford community I am so proud to serve. Together, with love and action, we can rise above the violence and move toward a more just and peaceful future for everyone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sen. Ingwersen was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2018, representing the 32nd district, serving Arundel, Dayton, and Lyman.
Sen. Ingwersen is currently serving his second term in the Maine Senate and serves as the Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee and as a member of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.
To learn more about Sen. Henry Ingwersen, please visit https://www.mainesenate.org/senator/senator/henry-ingwersen/
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