ICE Operation in Maine Sparks Protests, Political Fallout
Portland, Maine – A recent surge in immigration enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Maine has ignited protests, raised concerns about racial profiling, and created a politically charged atmosphere, potentially impacting the upcoming Senate elections. The operation, dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day,” began on and initially targeted approximately 1,400 individuals, according to ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde.
While federal officials maintain the operation focused on individuals deemed “the worst of the worst” – those with criminal records – reports from the ground suggest a broader scope. The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project confirmed that several of those detained were asylum seekers actively pursuing legal pathways to remain in the United States. Court filings reveal a mixed group of detainees, including some with violent felony convictions, but also individuals with unresolved immigration proceedings or those arrested without ever being convicted of a crime.
The operation has triggered widespread anxiety within Maine’s immigrant communities. Residents report ICE agents operating in unmarked vehicles, conducting surveillance outside workplaces, schools, hospitals, and churches. Many immigrants are reportedly staying home from work, avoiding public spaces, and keeping their children out of school for fear of apprehension. Neighbors are organizing support networks to help those at risk.
Protests have erupted in Portland, with demonstrators rallying against the presence of ICE agents. The Maine AFL-CIO, representing over 200 local labor unions, has condemned the operation, arguing that it has created an environment of fear and occupation for people of color. Matt Schlobohm, the organization’s executive director, expressed skepticism about assurances that the operation has ended, stating, “You can’t turn a tiger into a vegetarian.”
The political ramifications are significant, particularly for Senator Susan Collins, a Republican facing re-election this year. Collins claims to have spoken with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who reportedly assured her that large-scale ICE operations in Maine have ceased. However, residents and advocates remain doubtful, and the issue is being heavily scrutinized by her political opponents.
Governor Janet Mills has demanded detailed information from the federal government regarding the detentions and the legal authority under which they were carried out. She has asserted that any federal action impacting Maine residents must go through her administration, framing the dispute as a matter of state oversight and accountability. Federal officials, however, insist that enforcement will continue, highlighting arrests involving individuals with serious criminal convictions.
The situation in Maine mirrors similar ICE enforcement surges in other Democratic-led states, including Minnesota, California, and Oregon. The agency’s tactics – operating in small groups, often in plain clothes – have become a recurring pattern.
The controversy extends beyond Maine’s borders, potentially influencing the balance of power in the Senate. Collins’s moderate stance and occasional criticism of President Trump have failed to fully satisfy voters, and the ICE operation could further erode her support. A shift in Maine’s Senate seat could jeopardize the Republican majority, with potentially far-reaching consequences for immigration policy and other key legislative priorities.
As of , ICE maintains that its “enhanced” enforcement operations in Maine have ended, but routine immigration enforcement continues. The political fight, however, is far from over, with candidates staking out sharply different positions on immigration enforcement and the future of Maine’s immigrant communities.
