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Tom Homan Says ICE Vetting May Have Failed in Deadly Maine Shooting
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. White House border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) agent linked to the fatal shooting of a Colombian national in Maine may never have cleared the agency's screening process if allegations of domestic violence and misconduct are substantiated.
Speaking on CNN 's State of the Union , Homan addressed questions surrounding the officer, identified in media reports as David Brouillette, stating that the allegations raised serious concerns about whether ICE's vetting procedures functioned properly.
"If those are facts, I don't think he should ever have cleared vetting," Homan said. "How did the vetting process fail? Was that information not available? Did they not know? So, there's a separate administrative investigation on what happened here."
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Maine Attorney General's Office on Sunday.
The DHS initially stated that agents were conducting surveillance on the last known address of an individual with a final removal order when they attempted a vehicle stop. DHS reported that the driver attempted to flee and an officer discharged a weapon out of concern for public safety.
The incident drew national scrutiny after DHS officials confirmed that Durán Guerrero was not the target of the operation.
Security-camera footage reviewed by Newsweek showed the aftermath of the shooting, including a white Kia sedan moving erratically through an intersection after gunfire erupted. Witnesses reported hearing five shots. Additional footage showed federal agents pulling Durán Guerrero from the vehicle and attempting medical aid after he was handcuffed.
The shooting sparked protests across Maine and renewed questions about ICE's use of force during vehicle stops. It also intensified criticism after it was revealed that agents involved in the operation were not wearing body cameras despite a yearslong federal push to expand their use .
Media reports identified Brouillette, an Army veteran and former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) police officer, as the agent who fired the fatal shots. Court records and interviews detailed allegations of domestic violence, mental health challenges, and protective orders involving two former spouses, which Brouillette denied in court filings.
One ex-wife told reporters she had experienced severe domestic violence during their marriage. Another alleged Brouillette stalked and harassed her and physically abused a daughter. Family court records cited by the Associated Press included requests for temporary protection orders, including one that resulted in a judge temporarily ordering Brouillette to relinquish his firearms.
Some Democrats have seized on those reports to question how the officer passed ICE screening during the agency's rapid expansion under President Donald Trump's mass-deportation agenda.
On Sunday, Homan appeared to acknowledge those concerns.
"If this person had that type of history, it would have been a vetting issue, and it should have been brought to the attention of those who make those decisions," he said on State of the Union .
He added that ICE's internal affairs division is investigating whether information about the officer's background was available during hiring and whether any warning signs were missed.
While questioning the handling of this specific case, Homan defended the broader agency screening program, noting that ICE employs approximately 30,000 personnel who undergo pre-employment vetting.
"ICE has about 30,000 employees. They all go through vetting. This is kind of a rare instance," he said.
The border czar also noted that ICE is evaluating training and field protocols in the wake of the Maine and Texas shootings. Acting ICE Director David Venturella has introduced interim operational adjustments, including mandating the use of at least one body camera during vehicle stops and deploying experienced agents to support operations.
The Maine shooting remains under investigation by the FBI, the Maine Attorney General's Office and the DHS's Office of Inspector General.
Lorenzo Salgado Jr., one of Salgado Araujo’s sons, testified at a Friday congressional hearing, criticizing ICE and the DHS.
“Over the past two weeks we’ve had to grieve our father too soon,” he said. “DHS first said ICE targeted our father, then admitted he was never their intended target at all. DHS also said he weaponized his vehicle, a claim the three men who were in the van with him have directly disputed and one that surveillance footage, so far, does not appear to show.”
Like the fatal shooting in Maine, ICE agents did not have body cameras , the DHS said.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office is investigating the incident.
Contact Newsweek editor for this story: Anthony Murray .
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