WASHINGTON — Democratic members of Congress demanded solutions about Homeland Security’s vetting and coaching of immigration enforcement brokers after it was disclosed Thursday that the ICE officer involved in a deadly shooting this week in Maine had a historical past of psychological well being points and violent conduct.
The Related Press reported that David Brouillette, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot a Colombian man in Maine, is an Military veteran who has struggled with critical psychological well being points since early childhood, in response to a number of of his shut family.
The AP reached out to congressional leaders and several other key lawmakers of each events for response.
The highest Democrat on the Home Homeland Safety Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, mentioned Brouillette’s historical past of violence and psychological well being points, in addition to the demise in Maine, “instantly name into query the supposed vetting and coaching ICE does of its recruits.”
“This mindless tragedy should be investigated and the officer accountable must be taken off our streets and face justice for his actions,” Thompson mentioned in an announcement to the AP.
Senate Democratic Chief Chuck Schumer, who led a shutdown of the Division of Homeland Safety earlier this 12 months as Democrats tried to impose restraints on immigration enforcement operations, mentioned the implications of failing to place guardrails on ICE are actually being measured in lives.
“The Trump administration rushed 12,000 brokers onto our streets with out guaranteeing they have been match to hold a badge and a gun — and Republicans gave this rogue company huge energy and no accountability,” Schumer mentioned in an announcement. “They empowered ICE. Now they need to work with us to stop extra killings.”
The report on Brouillette’s troubling previous comes because the Division of Homeland Safety has been on a hiring spree, fueled by huge sums from Republicans in Congress to assist perform President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda. It raises fresh questions in regards to the division’s efforts to shortly rent, vet, practice and dispatch recruits who’re being despatched to patrol communities throughout America.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the Republican chair of the highly effective Appropriations Committee, referred again to her prior assertion that “an neutral investigation into the capturing in Biddeford must proceed, as the small print surrounding this tragedy are essential.”
Collins had said earlier that it’s “extraordinarily unlucky” that the agent didn’t have a body-worn digicam.
The senator ensured $20 million for expanded use of body-worn cameras and $2 million for deescalation coaching as a part of the Homeland Safety funding invoice that Republicans permitted to finish the division shutdown.
“The Democratic authorities shutdown delayed enactment and implementation of those essential security measures,” she mentioned.
A minimum of 10 individuals have died in encounters with immigration brokers since Trump launched the crackdown after retaking workplace, together with 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a Colombian nationwide who was shot and killed by Brouillette on Monday whereas in his automobile close to his house within the coastal Maine metropolis of Biddeford.
“This bombshell is totally appalling — precisely the insupportable hazard that we feared on account of arrest quotas and insufficient coaching,” mentioned Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., in an announcement to the AP.
“This agent clearly ought to by no means have had a gun — not to mention one offered to him by the USA authorities. And now a person is lifeless. I’m going to proceed demanding solutions and accountability,” he mentioned.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., mentioned Trump and his administration “have inspired ICE and CBP to enter and terrorize our communities, even when these brokers are untrained, improperly vetted, or lack expertise,” referring to Customs and Border Safety.
“The killing of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was horrifying,” he mentioned in an announcement to the AP, “and there should be a reputable, impartial, and clear investigation in order that these accountable are held accountable.”
