Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents swept across Maine with the help of local police departments, despite opposition by the Democrat governor.
ICE and other federal immigration officials began “Operation Catch of the Day” as Wednesday dawned with coordinated raids in counties all over the Democrat-led state. The campaign was peaceful and without widespread protests or obstruction by leftist activists because local police departments were assisting the federal forces in their duties.
The state’s Democrat Governor, Janet Mills, has repeatedly warned state law enforcement not to assist ICE in apprehending criminal illegals and in December gave her approval for a state law that would ban police from working with federal law enforcement. That law has not yet taken effect, though.
“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,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement issued on 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.”
Weymouth St Portland Maine – ICE Raids Everywhere!
Trump admin w/ ICE/Immigration enforcement surprised Maine with a MASSIVE barrage of ICE raids in Lewiston, Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Waterville, Scarborough, and MANY other locations.
The Democrat "report ICE line"… pic.twitter.com/PzVoC7V5Vb
— TheUnquirer (@unquirer) January 20, 2026
ICE South Portland Maine ScrubaDub – 1/20/26 (Tuesday)
Immigration enforcement moved with lightning speed today. Biddeford, South Portland, Portland, Westbrook, Lewiston, outside Waterville (on 95), and other locations.
It is being reported that local or state police have been… pic.twitter.com/ea6okvfSmW
— TheUnquirer (@unquirer) January 20, 2026
Biddeford Maine ICE Raid On Apartments (CONFIRMED!) 1/20/26
We continued to get tips & rumors about raids in Biddeford. There appears to have been 2-3 raids w/ handfuls of illegal male foreigners.
*Portland Maine Emergency ICE Protest was abysmal with BAD turnout.… pic.twitter.com/mF3gbATlDI
— TheUnquirer (@unquirer) January 21, 2026