Maine's Political Leaders Clash Over ICE's 'Operation Catch of the Day' Enforcement Surge
Maine's leading Republican and Democratic officials, currently locked in a high-profile Senate race, have adopted starkly different positions in response to a sweeping enforcement action by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across the state. The operation, which began this week, has already resulted in over one hundred arrests and ignited significant political and community tension.
Governor Mills Demands Transparency and Condemns Tactics
Democratic Governor Janet Mills has issued a forceful challenge to federal immigration authorities, demanding they provide judicial warrants, real-time arrest data, and basic details about those detained. In a statement on Friday, Mills declared, "Let me be clear: Maine will not be intimidated, and the reckless actions that we’ve seen ICE turn to will not be tolerated here in Maine." She further called upon her Republican rival, Senator Susan Collins, to take action following the House GOP majority's defeat of Democratic efforts to curtail ICE funding.
Senator Collins Advocates for Policy Reforms and Caution
Senator Susan Collins largely avoided direct criticism of ICE's operational tactics. Instead, she emphasised that individuals residing in the country legally should not be targeted. Collins pointed to policies she has championed, such as equipping ICE personnel with body cameras and providing de-escalation training, as measures that could enhance accountability and public trust. She also addressed protest organisers planning demonstrations in Maine's largest cities, urging them to avoid interfering with law enforcement activities during arrests.
"There are people in Maine and elsewhere who have entered this country illegally and who have engaged in criminal activity," Collins stated. "They could be subject to arrest and deportation pursuant to the laws of the United States, and people who are exercising the right to peacefully gather and protest their government should be careful not to interfere with law enforcement efforts while doing so."
The High-Stakes Senate Race Context
The political divide occurs within the context of Governor Mills' campaign for Senator Collins' seat, a race that could significantly influence the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. Mills, who is term-limited as governor, must first secure the Democratic nomination against outsider candidate Graham Platner, an oyster farmer endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders. Platner has vehemently condemned the ICE surge, posting a social media video offering advice on resistance and criticising the agency's actions.
ICE's 'Operation Catch of the Day' Details and Community Impact
Federal officials have labelled the enforcement action 'Operation Catch of the Day,' stating it has approximately 1,400 targets. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin asserted the operation, which began on Tuesday, has succeeded in removing dangerous criminals from communities, citing arrests of individuals convicted of crimes including aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
However, in Maine—a predominantly rural state where about 4% of the 1.4 million residents are foreign-born—the detentions have provoked considerable anxiety, particularly in Portland and Lewiston. These cities host sizable immigrant and refugee populations, many from African nations. Community leaders report families are staying indoors, avoiding work, and keeping children home from school due to fears of arrest, mirroring patterns seen in other U.S. cities during similar ICE surges.
Personal Accounts and Planned Protests
The human impact of the operation is illustrated by accounts such as that of Cristian Vaca, a 28-year-old roofer from Ecuador living legally in Biddeford. Vaca reported that ICE agents threatened his family outside his home, despite his legal status, work permit, and tax payments. A video he recorded captures an agent stating, "We’re going to come back for your whole family, okay?" as a child's voice is heard in the background.
In response, protest organisers have announced demonstrations, including one scheduled for Friday evening in Portland's Monument Square. Additional gatherings have occurred outside an ICE field office in Scarborough. "Maine is one of those places where you look out for your neighbors and everyone’s there," said college student Ava Gleason, a demonstrator in Scarborough. "We’re a community, and to see people come in and rip apart a community is freaking terrifying."
