ICE Violence Sparks Calls to Remove Agency from US Streets 2026

The recent killings of two men by ICE agents have sparked mounting calls to remove ICE from US streets, as advocacy groups demand accountability and an end to what they describe as extrajudicial violence. The fatal shootings of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas have reignited a national debate about the role of federal immigration enforcement in civilian spaces.

Details of the ICE Shootings

On July 7, federal agents in unmarked vehicles pursued Salgado, a 52-year-old builder originally from Mexico, in Houston as he drove his crew to their job site. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that agents were conducting a targeted enforcement operation but that Salgado was not the intended target. Salgado had lived in the US for 35 years and was close to obtaining legal status, his family said.

In a separate incident, Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was killed in Maine under similar circumstances. Advocacy groups, including the National Police Accountability Project and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, have labeled these events as extrajudicial killings.

Comparison of Recent ICE Incidents

Key Takeaways from the ICE Controversy

• ICE agents have been involved in two fatal shootings in less than a week, both involving individuals who were not enforcement targets.
• Advocacy groups are calling for Congress to freeze funding to ICE and limit its jurisdiction to prevent further violence.
• The DHS claims officers acted in self-defense, but bystander videos have fueled public outrage.
• Families of the victims demand justice and a thorough investigation into the operations.

Why Calls to Remove ICE Are Growing

Lauren Bonds, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, stated, "The bystander videos I watched make it clear that ICE agents carried out another extrajudicial public execution in Maine. It’s clear that the only way to prevent ICE from killing us in the streets is to remove ICE from the streets." These sentiments echo a broader movement to reform or dismantle ICE as an agency.

Critics argue that ICE operations often lack transparency and accountability, leading to unnecessary violence. Supporters of the agency, however, maintain that agents face dangerous situations and need to protect themselves. The debate continues as lawmakers weigh potential legislative changes.

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