Congolese corrections officer detained by ICE; county officials dispute agency allegations
Jun 11, 2026·Location: South Portland, ME
Country of origin: Congo
DetainmentAsylum SeekerWork AuthorizationHome/ResidenceDue Process ViolationBlackState/Local CollusionMaine
Billy Bassikissa Bounguiena, a corrections officer at Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, was detained by ICE on Tuesday at his home in South Portland. He held a valid work permit and had no criminal history, according to county officials. ICE alleged he had a criminal record based on a 2019 domestic violence arrest in which no charges were filed; county officials dispute this characterization as false. He is being held at Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island.
Sources
- Cumberland County officials criticize ICE after another corrections officer is detained
pressherald.com·Jun 11, 2026·archived copy
- ICE arrests another Cumberland County Jail corrections officer, third in a year
mainepublic.org·Jun 15, 2026·archived copy
- Maine corrections officer detained by ICE, sheriff's office says
WMTW·Jun 12, 2026·archived copy
More incidents in Maine
- Maine ICE observer detained at border after being wrongly added to DHS databaseOct 2, 2026 · Portland, ME
- Congolese asylum seeker, jail officer, detained by ICE at routine check-inSep 22, 2026 · Scarborough, ME
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- Corrections officer with valid work permit detained by ICE in South PortlandAug 28, 2026 · South Portland, ME
- Cumberland County corrections officer detained by ICE in South PortlandAug 27, 2026 · South Portland, ME
- Cumberland County corrections officer from Angola detained by ICE, sheriff praises himAug 23, 2026 · Portland, ME