Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's hiring practices for ICE agents are under scrutiny after an incident involving agent David Brouillette, who shot and killed Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a Colombian-born man, in Biddeford, Maine. Guerrero, 26, was legally residing in the U.S. and was not the target of the operation. Following the shooting, family members of Brouillette have raised concerns about his history of mental health issues and violent behavior.
Lucinda Brouillette, David's second ex-wife, stated, "If you were to ask me whether I believe David Brouillette is capable of this level of extreme violence, my answer is unequivocally yes," citing her personal experiences. Ashley Brouillette, his first wife, described abusive behavior from David on the day he was hired at ICE.
Noem's tenure included a push to hire more officers, with the Department of Homeland Security aiming to recruit over 10,000 additional personnel. Training for new officers has been criticized for being insufficient; it was reduced from 72 days to as few as 42 days. Former ICE instructor Ryan Schwank testified that recruits often lack a solid understanding of necessary tactics and laws by the end of their training.
After Noem was dismissed by President Trump in March, current Secretary Markwayne Mullin reversed the accelerated training changes. Concerns about Brouillette's mental health were raised by family members, who indicated that he had struggled with mental health issues since childhood, exacerbated by his military service in Afghanistan. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on Brouillette's hiring and training.