A Cumberland County corrections officer was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week, according to a June 12 media release from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Corrections Officer Billy Bassikissa Bounguiena was detained by ICE on Tuesday, June 9, in South Portland, the sheriff’s office confirmed.
Bounguiena was hired by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in August 2024. According to the agency, he has been a “valued member” of the team, has had no disciplinary issues, and has “demonstrated dedication to his duties” while often working overtime.
The sheriff’s office said Bounguiena successfully completed the same comprehensive background screening and vetting process required of all employees. At the time he was hired, the office said, he had an employment authorization document showing he could legally work in the country until 2030.
The sheriff’s office said it has no additional information about the circumstances that led to the ICE detention and directed questions about ICE’s investigation, motives, or reasons for the detention to federal immigration officials.
Spectrum News reported Friday that ICE said Bounguiena was detained for overstaying a student visa.
The case marks at least the second time this year that a Cumberland County corrections employee or recruit has been detained by ICE.
In January, a Cumberland County corrections recruit was detained by ICE, an incident that drew public criticism from Sheriff Kevin Joyce and became part of a broader dispute between local officials and federal immigration authorities. WABI reported at the time that Joyce confirmed the man was a corrections recruit and said he was working to obtain more information about the arrest.
That earlier detention had wider fallout. The Portland Press Herald reported in April that the January arrest resulted in ICE pulling its detainees from the Cumberland County Jail. The paper later reported that the officer detained in January had returned to Maine and was enrolled in training.
The latest detention comes as Cumberland County and federal immigration officials remain under scrutiny over how ICE enforcement intersects with local law enforcement agencies, detention contracts, and hiring practices.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said any further questions about Bounguiena’s detention should be directed to ICE.
