Immigration Agents Sweep Across Maine with Local Police Help
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents swarmed Maine with the help of local police departments, despite opposition from the Democratic governor.
ICE and other federal immigration agents launched “Operation Catch of the Day” at dawn Wednesday with coordinated raids in counties across the Democratic-run state. The campaign took place peacefully and without widespread protests or obstruction from left-wing activists, as local police departments assisted federal forces in their tasks.
The state’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has repeatedly warned state law enforcement not to help ICE apprehend illegal criminals and in December gave her approval to a state law that would prohibit police from working with federal law enforcement. However, this law has not yet come into force.
“Governor Mills and her fellow Maine sanctuary politicians have made it clear that they would rather stand with criminal illegal aliens than protect law-abiding American citizens,” Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement released Wednesday. “We launched Operation Catch of the Day to target the state’s worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. 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.”
Some reports say left-wing activist groups were caught off guard by the scale of the campaign and the speed with which ICE moved across the state. And some Democratic politicians in Maine lashed out against the raids.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree blasted the raids and said federal law enforcement officials would be held accountable for any “unlawful actions.”
“Please know that I stand firmly with our immigrant communities and the people of Maine. We will NOT stand idly by while ICE, CBP (US Customs and Border Protection) or any other agency attempts to terrorize our communities and illegally kidnap our neighbors,” Pingree said.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson, however, warned the activists that they had no right to obstruct the enforcement of federal law.
Benson warned activists that they have a constitutional right to assemble, but not to riot and obstruct. He said in a statement:
In the coming days, if Maine citizens seek to exercise their right to assemble and protest, it is vital that these protests remain peaceful. Anyone who forcibly attacks or obstructs a federal law enforcement officer, willfully destroys government property, or unlawfully obstructs federal law enforcement activities commits a federal crime and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Benson also warned left-wing Democratic politicians not to incite insurrection, writing:
Finally, it is incumbent on everyone with a public voice – whether an elected official, a commentator, or an engaged citizen – to similarly call for peaceful protest and engagement. Controversial and bombastic public statements only inflame the situation and make violence more likely.
In the early hours of Wednesday, ICE confirmed the arrest of more than 50 “worst” illegal criminals.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that in the first few hours, four dangerous criminals were arrested, including Dominic Ali, a kidnapper and violent offender from Sudan; Ethiopian national Ambessa Berghe, wanted for assault and drug trafficking; Elmara Correia, an Angolan woman wanted for child endangerment; and Guatemalan Dany Lopez-Cortz, convicted of drunk driving.
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