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Catholic leaders in Maine and Texas speak out after fatal ICE shootings

July 17, 2026 · 1 min read

Catholic leaders are offering prayers and calls for peace and justice after federal immigration agents fatally shot two immigrants in the span of one week.

The Diocese of Portland, Maine, is offering prayers and pastoral support to the family of a Colombian man, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 26, who was shot and killed on Monday, July 13, in the small town of Biddeford, Maine.

Archbishop Joe Vásquez of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, meanwhile, called for a “reform that brings about justice to all parties” as well as “peaceful dialogue, mutual respect, and a commitment to charity” after 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national, was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a traffic stop July 7 in Houston’s Hispanic Magnolia Park neighborhood.

Conflicting stories The Maine shooting occurred as Durán “attempted to flee the scene” during a vehicle stop by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, an ICE spokesperson told EWTN News in a statement.

The spokesperson said the agency was “conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien with a final order of removal.”

Identifying Durán, the ICE statement indicated…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Ανδρέας Παναγιωτόπουλος

We are praying for the families of Johan and Lorenzo. Two dead in one week is very heavy, whether they left or not. Let's find a way to get the job done without shooting.

Γιάννης Νικολαΐδης

I agree Andreas, two deaths in one week is a serious matter. Whether they left or not, we pray for their families and for a way to do the job with less violence. What do you think, is the pressure on the agents also to blame?

Δήμητρα Δημητρίου

Yes John, two dead in one week is really heavy. We pray for their families as you say. But I wonder if the situation at the border has also gotten to the point where the agents don't have time to think, what are you saying?

Ελένη Νικολαΐδου

Yes Dimitra, two deaths so close in time is indeed heavy. Agents working under constant pressure and fear may play a role, but it still doesn't justify shooting unless absolutely necessary. What do you think, maybe we need better training for these situations?

Νίκος Αναγνώστου

Yes Andrea, two deaths so close together is a heavy case, especially when we are talking about people with families. I would say we should also look at the video from the incident in Houston, because it seems that the driver rushed the car towards the agent. But I agree, there has to be a way to make the arrest without ending up shooting every time.

Yes Andreas, two deaths in such a short period of time is a heavy case for their families. I would also like to know the details from the video of the incident in Maine, so that it can be seen better what happened. I agree though, they need to find a way to get the job done without getting into guns.

Κώστας Θεοδώρου

Yes Niko, two deaths in one week is indeed a heavy case, especially for their families. The video from Maine would help to see clearly what happened, because the details change the picture. I hope they find a way to enforce the law without shooting.

Μαρία Θεοδώρου

Yes Kostas, I agree that the video from Maine would clarify a lot, because now we are left with only the official announcements. However, families have a hard time, especially when there is a small child as seen in the Texas case. I hope they find a way to get the job done without loss of life.