Johan Sebastian Guerrero had a work permit and Social Security number and was working multiple jobs to support his family before he was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Biddeford.Immigration attorney Todd Pomerleau said there are multiple ways to qualify for a work permit, including through visas or while waiting on a pending asylum claim. “There’s a whole assortment of applications, but not everyone can get one,” said Pomerleau. “It’s actually quite difficult to get a work permit.”The process includes paperwork and fingerprinting.”That means the federal government has ostensibly verified who you are,” said Pomerleau. “They should know where you work because they gave you a work permit. A lot of these forms ask you questions; where do you live, who do you live with, what do you do for work?”Pomerleau said obtaining a work permit takes time, as does renewing one. In his cases, he has seen ICE target people while they wait to be approved.”I find that these days it seems as though ICE is using this information as a dragnet to arrest people.”DHS said that if Guerrero’s immigration case was still pending, he was here illegally, claiming that a work permit does not provide legal status.Pomerleau has successfully challenged that argument in court. He said that claim is like arguing that someone doesn’t have a cake because it’s still baking in the oven. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Guerrero entered the United States in September 2023 and was granted work authorization in May 2025.It is not yet known what avenue Guerrero went through to obtain the work permit, only that he took steps to follow the legal process. DHS has said that Guerrero was not the target of the operation, ICE agents were looking for someone else who lives at 53 Pool St.

BIDDEFORD, Maine —

Johan Sebastian Guerrero had a work permit and Social Security number and was working multiple jobs to support his family before he was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Biddeford.

Immigration attorney Todd Pomerleau said there are multiple ways to qualify for a work permit, including through visas or while waiting on a pending asylum claim.

“There’s a whole assortment of applications, but not everyone can get one,” said Pomerleau. “It’s actually quite difficult to get a work permit.”

The process includes paperwork and fingerprinting.

“That means the federal government has ostensibly verified who you are,” said Pomerleau. “They should know where you work because they gave you a work permit. A lot of these forms ask you questions; where do you live, who do you live with, what do you do for work?”

Pomerleau said obtaining a work permit takes time, as does renewing one. In his cases, he has seen ICE target people while they wait to be approved.

“I find that these days it seems as though ICE is using this information as a dragnet to arrest people.”

DHS said that if Guerrero’s immigration case was still pending, he was here illegally, claiming that a work permit does not provide legal status.

Pomerleau has successfully challenged that argument in court. He said that claim is like arguing that someone doesn’t have a cake because it’s still baking in the oven.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Guerrero entered the United States in September 2023 and was granted work authorization in May 2025.

It is not yet known what avenue Guerrero went through to obtain the work permit, only that he took steps to follow the legal process.

DHS has said that Guerrero was not the target of the operation, ICE agents were looking for someone else who lives at 53 Pool St.