NEWS | Congressional hearing scheduled in Biddeford

August 11, 2026August 11, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver

Mayor Liam LaFountain and other local leaders will be asked to testify before a group of Democratic Congressional lawmakers on Monday, Aug. 17

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) announced Tuesday morning that she and fellow House Democrats will host a “shadow hearing” in Biddeford on Monday, Aug. 17 regarding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) “use of force and abuse of power” after the killing of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero on July 13.

Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain will be called as a witness before the Committee that will include Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security; Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and other Democratic members of Congress.

At the forum, entitled “Seeking Justice in Biddeford: Oversight of ICE’s Use of Force in the Death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero,” members of Congress will hear from representatives for the Durán Guerrero family, local officials, community advocates and others who can speak to the state of the investigation and the impact ICE’s operations have had on Maine.

The forum will be held at Biddeford High School’s Little Theater, beginning at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 17.

Other witnesses scheduled to appear before the committee include Ben Gideon, legal representation for the Durán Guerrero family; Sue Roche, executive director of Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP); and Mufalo Chitam, executive director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (MIRC).

Other witnesses may be asked to testify

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