Tom Homan, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said Sunday that allegations of violent behavior against an ICE agent linked to a recent fatal shooting in Maine raise serious questions about the agency’s vetting process. Homan stated that if the claims against the agent are accurate, the individual should not have passed the background screening required to join ICE.
David Brouillette, an Army veteran and former Veterans Affairs police officer from Maine, has been publicly identified by acquaintances and local media as the ICE agent involved in the July 13 shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a Colombian immigrant, in Biddeford. Following the incident, two of Brouillette’s ex-wives have come forward with accusations of past violent and threatening conduct, citing court documents and interviews.
During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Homan questioned whether critical information about the agent’s history was available to or overlooked by those responsible for his hiring. “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,” Homan said. He acknowledged that such a record would make it "almost impossible" for the individual to pass the agency’s screening process.
Although federal authorities have not officially confirmed Brouillette as the shooter, Ashley Brouillette, who was married to him from 2007 to 2009, said she spoke with him after the shooting and that he admitted involvement, stating the shooting was justified. Ashley also accused him of domestic violence, including choking, slamming her to the floor, and an incident involving boiling water. Separately, Brouillette’s other ex-wife, Lucinda Brouillette, filed court documents alleging he once threatened to kill her with a firearm. Brouillette has denied the allegations and accused both women of abuse during their divorce proceedings.
The July 13 shooting of Durán Guerrero, who officials reported was not the intended target of the ICE operation, has intensified scrutiny of the agency. This incident is the second fatal shooting by ICE agents within a week, following the death of another immigrant during a traffic stop in Texas. Critics argue these incidents highlight issues with ICE hiring and training practices amid the Trump administration’s expanded immigration enforcement efforts.
Homan said that both the vetting process and training programs for agents are currently under review but defended the agency’s overall hiring procedures, noting that ICE employs about 30,000 people who all undergo background checks. An ICE spokesperson previously stated the agency evaluates all available information during the hiring process.
Prior to the Trump administration’s expansion, ICE’s hiring included polygraph tests and detailed questionnaires covering medical history, mental health, legal issues, and protective orders. It remains unclear what disclosures Brouillette made during his application.
The recent deaths and ensuing allegations have renewed debate over ICE’s operational standards as the agency continues its nationwide crackdown on unauthorized immigration.