DHS confirms ICE activity in Maine, launches 'Operation Catch of the Day'
By: newscentermaine. com
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
"We have launched Operation Catch of the Day to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in the state," DHS officials said.
PORTLAND, Maine — U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said they have launched "Operation Catch of the Day," a targeted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) effort in Maine.
The effort is "targeting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens who have terrorized communities," a press release from DHS shared Wednesday said.
"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," Tricia McLaughlin, assistant DHS secretary, said in a statement.
McLaughlin claims ICE agents arrested people convicted of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child. NEWS CENTER Maine has not yet been able to independently confirm this, or if the people convicted served time for their crimes.
We have reached out to Governor Mills for comment and are awaiting a response.
ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde told Fox News the operation has resulted in about 50 arrests so far. Hyde said the agency is targeting about 1,400 individuals in Maine.
Hyde also criticized Maine's law enforcement ban on collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying it has hindered operations.
She told Fox News "agitators" in the state impeded enforcement actions, but added that the agency will continue until it has arrested all its targets.
DHS did not immediately provide additional details on the specific locations of arrests or the identities of those targeted.
Westbrook Mayor David Morse said in a social media post that ICE has been actively conducting operations and detaining people in Westbrook on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"At least one peaceful US citizen observer from Westbrook was targeted for intimidation by a masked federal law enforcement officer this morning," Morse said. "This is outrageous behavior from a federal authority, and I stand by our citizens' rights to peacefully observe and/or protest."
Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline also released a statement Wednesday, saying Lewiston stands for the dignity of all the people who call Maine home.
"ICE's terror and intimidation tactics reflect a complete lack of humanity and concern for basic human welfare. These masked men with no regard for the rule of law are causing long-term damage to our state and to our country," Sheline said. "Lewiston stands for the dignity of all the people who call Maine home. We will never stop caring for our neighbors."
Reports of increased ICE activity spread across southern Maine on Tuesday, prompting brief school lockouts and rising anxiety among immigrant communities.
Two Portland schools—Deering High School and Lincoln Middle School—briefly locked their doors around 9 a.m. after reports of ICE agents possibly on nearby Brighton Avenue. No threat was found, and the lockouts were quickly lifted, district officials said.
"This is an understandably tense time in our community, as reports and rumors of immigration enforcement actions grow," a statement from Portland Public Schools said. "The Portland Public Schools will continue to follow our protocols for keeping students and staff safe, while also staying focused on our core work of teaching and learning. We will continue to provide updates directly to our PPS community as we have information to share."
Staff at the Cumberland Farms on Woodford Street in Portland told NEWS CENTER Maine they had received several reports of ICE agents in the area on Tuesday morning.
Elsewhere, Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis urged tribal members to carry tribal identification amid reports of federal detentions of Native Americans in other states. He said no ICE activity had been reported on tribal lands in Maine but cautioned members to stay informed.
"We know that many of you have heard reports of ICE interactions involving individuals who are, by law and by birthright, citizens of Tribal Nations," Francis said in a statement. "News and social media reports indicate that ICE has detained several Native Americans throughout the country and have conducted raids on facilities located on Tribal lands. The Tribal government has verified that some of these reports are true, and some are false."
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Operation Persecute Somalians is underway in Maine.
What other ethnicities do you believe are immune from following the law?
Is that what he said?
Woke up this morning for you to cause me a laugh out loud I can't stop, and I haven't even made my breakfast yet.
Read a story today that an ICE agent arrested a 5 year old kid. I wonder if the kid had kicked him in the shin or sprayed the agent with a water pistol, if the agent would have shot him in the head.
He wasn't arrested, he was detained and he didn't do anything to agents except be in the car with someone the agents wanted to arrest
Oh, okay, good that he only kept the kid hostage in order to get his father. Kid is lucky he didn't end up in a cage like kids did before.
Not sure what this term means but according to authorities he was kept in the "least restrictive detention facillity".so maybe just on a leash or something like that. Besides this is old news now that a 2 year old has been detained in Maine
Why? He wasn't white? He didn't speak English? He didn't show his papers when it was demanded? He tried to kill the ICE agent with his rattle?
LOCK HIM UP!!! SEND HIM TO GUATAMALA!!!
WELCOME TO AMERICA!!!!
I'm not sure where you are getting your news but the kid was abandoned by his illegal alien dad who ran away from him so ICE took care of him. Are they supposed to leave him in the streets?
I replied to Freefaller's comment. Thank you for telling me your verson of the story. So the fault is with the child's father trying to escape his captors.
Thank you for telling me your verson of the story. So
its not a “version.” It’s on video. Bad faith actors are lying about it,
So the fault is with the child's father
yes, he abandoned his child. It would have cruel for ice to simply leave him on the streets.
What his wife will probably do to him could be worse than what ICE will do.
Sorry I don't know details but he looked pretty white to me, but maybe there was a drop or two of non white blood in there. As for his english I doubt he spoke it very well, after all he's only two Truthfully the child was detained when ICE picked up his father
co-pilot
🌍 Somali and Somali Bantu presence in Southern Maine
Maine has a well‑established Somali and Somali Bantu population, especially in Portland and Lewiston.
Westbrook, being directly adjacent to Portland, also has Somali and other East African residents who participate in regional community programs.
🏫 Westbrook-specific community connections
The Intercultural Community Center (ICC) is located in Westbrook (36 Patrick Drive). It supports immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers — including Somali families — with education, youth programs, and social services.
Many Somali families in the Portland metro area use ICC programs, so Westbrook is part of that broader community network.
Great to hear. I am sure it is something all Americans can get behind.
That's what they keep saying but then they start just stopping people on the street or after they finish eating at a restaurant then check the staff's citizenship. I have no problem with ICE doing their job of going after known undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes or who didn't show up for their court hearings. This dumb fuck bigoted racial profiling sweep that is underway is disgusting, un-American and is only supported by poorly educated xenophobes who find it easier to blame those of other races than to take any responsibility for their own miserable lot in life.
My brother lives in Maine, hopefully he has his papers on him at all times so he doesn't get picked up and deported to El Salvadore or somewhere else