Maine Police Defy Democratic Governor, Assist ICE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, assisted by local police departments, conducted a coordinated series of raids across Maine on Wednesday as part of a federal enforcement initiative dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day,” despite longstanding opposition from the state’s Democratic leadership.

The operation began early Wednesday morning and spanned multiple counties across the Democrat-led state. According to federal officials, the raids proceeded peacefully and without significant disruption, in part because local law enforcement agencies cooperated with ICE agents.

Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has repeatedly warned state and local law enforcement against assisting federal immigration authorities. In December, she approved legislation that would prohibit police departments from working with ICE, though the law has not yet taken effect.

“Governor Mills and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Maine have made it abundantly clear that they would rather stand with criminal illegal aliens than protect law-abiding American citizens,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement Wednesday. “We have launched Operation Catch of the Day to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in the state. On the first day of operations, we arrested illegal aliens convicted of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, we are no longer allowing criminal illegal aliens to terrorize American citizens.”

According to federal officials, more than 50 criminal illegal aliens were arrested within the first hours of the operation. DHS identified several of those taken into custody, including Dominic Ali, a Sudanese national convicted of kidnapping and violent offenses; Ambessa Berghe, an Ethiopian national wanted on assault and drug charges; Elmara Correia, an Angolan national charged with endangering the welfare of a child; and Dany Lopez-Cortez, a Guatemalan national with prior convictions for driving under the influence.

Some reports indicated that left-wing activist groups were caught off guard by the scale and speed of the raids, which may have limited protests or attempts to obstruct federal agents. Nonetheless, several Democratic officials criticized the effort.

Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree condemned the operation, accusing federal agencies of intimidating immigrant communities.

“Please know that I stand firmly with our immigrant communities and the people of Maine,” Pingree said in a statement. “We will NOT stand by as ICE, CBP, or any other agency tries to terrorize our communities and unlawfully abduct our neighbors.”

U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson responded by warning activists and elected officials that while peaceful protest is protected under the Constitution, obstruction of federal law enforcement is not.

“In the coming days, if Maine citizens seek to exercise their rights to assemble and protest, it is vital that these protests remain peaceful,” Benson said. “Anyone who forcibly assaults or impedes a federal law enforcement officer, willfully destroys government property, or unlawfully obstructs federal law enforcement activity commits a federal crime and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Benson also cautioned public officials against inflammatory rhetoric, warning that “divisive, bombastic public statements only inflame the situation and make violence more likely.”

Federal officials indicated that Operation Catch of the Day is ongoing and that additional arrests are expected as ICE continues targeting criminal illegal aliens throughout the state.

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