The Trump administration has intensified federal immigration enforcement in Maine, with the Department of Homeland Security announcing nearly 50 arrests under “Operation Catch of the Day,” a surge operation that began last Tuesday. DHS officials stated those arrested include individuals convicted of offenses such as aggravated assault and child endangerment, while NewsNation reported the operations focused on Lewiston and Portland—cities with significant Somali populations—and ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde confirmed the agency has roughly 1,400 “targets” in the state. The move is part of a broader enforcement push in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis, but it has sparked a forceful rebuke from Maine Governor Janet Mills, who preemptively warned against federal overreach and affirmed her commitment to residents’ civil rights.
In an on-camera statement released last Wednesday, Governor Mills directly challenged the administration’s approach, declaring, “To the federal government I say this: if your plan is to come here to be provocative and to undermine the civil rights of Maine residents, do not be confused — those tactics are not welcome here.” She urged Mainers to protest peacefully if they chose, adding, “I know that many of you are angry about the potential for any enhanced federal law enforcement presence in Maine. I feel that too.” Mills emphasized the state’s values, stating, “We stand for the rule of law. We oppose violence. We stand for peaceful protest. We stand for compassion, for integrity and justice.”
The Department of Homeland Security fired back, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin asserting in a release that 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.” The operation comes amid data showing approximately 10,000 migrants without legal status lived in Maine as of 2023, with Pew Research Center noting nearly 6 percent of K-12 students in the state have parents without legal status. The escalating conflict reflects deepening divisions between federal immigration strategies and state-led protections, particularly in communities with long-settled immigrant populations.