Two Latino Immigrants Killed in Less Than a Week: Voto Latino Demands Accountability and DHS Secretary Mullin’s Resignation

Washington, D.C. — Today, in response to the fatal shooting of a Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian man, in Biddeford, Maine by ICE agents, Voto Latino Executive Director Beatriz Lopez issued the following statement: 

“In less than a week, two Latino men have been killed at the hands of ICE agents. The killing of Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine this morning, just days after the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, is a devastating and unconscionable part of a shameful pattern of violence. Rather than offering transparency, DHS is already scrambling to peddle a fabricated narrative to distort the facts of what occurred on the ground before a real investigation has even begun.

Joan’s death sends a chilling message that absolutely no one is safe from this agency’s pattern of excessive violence. We demand an immediate, fully independent investigation into these killings. Let’s be clear: it never was about documented or undocumented people—what we’re seeing is pure xenophobia and racism. Our community has been targeted and persecuted with zero accountability. Voto Latino calls on DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to resign immediately because one death is too much.” 

Voto Latino launched “One Death Is Enough,” a new campaign demanding accountability for the killing of these two members of our community. 

The campaign includes:

• Voto Latino is leading an effort with partner organizations to demand an  independent investigation into Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s and the young Colombian man’s death and pressing Congress to rein in ICE’s use of force.
• National petition – “One Death Is Enough”: Calling for the resignation of DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, with supporters urged to sign at OneDeathIsEnough.com.
• Paid advertising investment: Voto Latino is boosting the petition through paid digital to maximize reach and pressure on Congress and DHS.