Maine governor demands warrants, data amid sweeping ICE operation
Gov. Janet Mills demanded arrest warrants, real-time numbers and detainee information as ICE’s operation prompts fear, school alerts and disputed arrests in Portland and Lewiston.
Overview
Gov. Janet Mills publicly pressed federal immigration officials to produce arrest warrants, real-time arrest numbers and detainee locations amid reports of widespread enforcement across Maine.
Federal officials said about 50 arrests occurred the first day and roughly 1,400 people are targets, with DHS calling its focus the 'worst of the worst'.
Communities in Portland, Lewiston and other towns reported fear, school lockouts or reduced attendance, families staying indoors, and businesses reporting disruptions tied to the enforcement activity.
Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said a corrections recruit with verified work authorization was arrested; videos show agents' threats, and an internal ICE memo authorizes some entries without judicial warrants.
Democratic leaders criticized the operation as heavy-handed; Republicans urged restraint in rhetoric; Maine's top federal prosecutor urged peaceful protests while officials question why Maine was targeted now.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the operation as heavy-handed and opaque, emphasizing state and community alarm, civil‑liberties concerns, and possible misalignment with stated ICE priorities. Editorial choices — leading with the governor’s challenge, highlighting fear in immigrant communities, and quoting critical local officials — cast doubt on federal justification and emphasize human impact.
Sources (16)
FAQ
'Operation Catch of the Day' is an ICE immigration enforcement operation launched in Maine on January 20, 2026, targeting about 1,400 'worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens' with criminal convictions like aggravated assault.
ICE reported approximately 50 arrests on the first day, Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Immigrant communities reported fear, school lockouts, reduced attendance, families staying indoors, business disruptions, and alerts about ICE activity.
Gov. Janet Mills demanded warrants and data; leaders called it heavy-handed, fear-mongering political theater, not focused on public safety, with arrests of non-criminals and asylum seekers.
ICE operations reported in Portland, Lewiston, Westbrook, Biddeford, South Portland, and Scarborough.
History
9 sources