Biddeford hug ministry follows ICE shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero

On July 24, 25‑year‑old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent at the corner of Hill St. and Pool St. in Biddeford, Maine. A memorial quickly formed at the site, with candles, flowers and handwritten notes left by community members.

Interfaith clergy—among them Rev. Devin Green, Rev. Tara Humphries and Rev. Lori Whittemore of the Unitarian Universalist Church—arrived to provide what they called a “hug ministry.” They offered hugs, conversation and a calming presence to grieving visitors, staying through the weekend. University of New England student Emma Wilkinson documented the fading flowers and noted the emotional impact of the memorial.

The ministers aim to give comfort and a sense of shared mourning, emphasizing presence over sermons as the community processes the fatal encounter with federal immigration enforcement.