Collins, Mills diverge sharply as ICE enforcement surge draws protests in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine (JN)–  A sweeping federal immigration enforcement operation in Maine has triggered sharp political divisions, public protests, and growing concern among local officials, as the state’s top Democratic and Republican leaders offered starkly different responses while facing off in a closely watched U.S. Senate race.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has publicly challenged Immigration and Customs Enforcement to provide greater transparency around its actions, including judicial warrants, real-time arrest figures, and basic information about those detained. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, by contrast, stopped short of criticizing ICE’s tactics, instead emphasizing adherence to federal law and urging protesters not to interfere with enforcement operations.

The dispute unfolded as ICE confirmed more than 100 arrests in Maine this week as part of what the Department of Homeland Security has dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day,” an enforcement surge that officials say is focused on individuals with serious criminal convictions. The operation has reverberated across the state, particularly in immigrant-heavy cities such as Portland and Lewiston, where protests and reports of workplace and school absences have intensified.

Mills presses for accountability and federal limits

Speaking Friday, Mills accused ICE of operating without sufficient oversight and warned that Maine would resist what she described as reckless federal actions.

“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,” Mills said.

She also called on Collins to intervene after House Republicans defeated Democratic efforts to limit ICE funding, framing the issue as one of civil liberties and state sovereignty as well as immigration enforcement. Mills has repeatedly sought confirmation that arrests are being carried out with proper judicial warrants, arguing that transparency is essential to maintaining public trust.

Mills, who is term-limited as governor, is expected to challenge Collins for her Senate seat later this year, a contest that could influence control of the narrowly divided chamber.

Collins urges restraint, avoids direct criticism of ICE

Collins, a longtime incumbent known for her centrist positioning, avoided condemning ICE’s tactics directly. She said enforcement actions should not target individuals who are legally present in the United States, and reiterated support for policy measures she has previously promoted, including body cameras for ICE officers and expanded de-escalation training.

In a statement addressing the protests, Collins warned demonstrators against obstructing law enforcement operations.

“There are people in Maine and elsewhere who have entered this country illegally and who have engaged in criminal activity,” she said. “They could be subject to arrest and deportation pursuant to the laws of the United States.”

Her remarks reflected a narrower focus on legality and public order, even as demonstrations against ICE spread across the state.

Protests grow as arrests continue

Several hundred people gathered Friday night in Portland’s Monument Square despite freezing temperatures and strong winds. The demonstration remained orderly, with a minimal police presence, as speakers criticized the enforcement surge and protesters held signs reading “ICE Out of Maine” and similar slogans.

“ICE is terrorizing our community, and they don’t belong here,” said Levi Alexander, a 22-year-old Portland resident who attended the rally.

Organizers also announced additional protests, including smaller gatherings outside an ICE field office in Scarborough earlier in the week. Participants described the enforcement activity as disruptive and frightening in a state that has historically prided itself on tight-knit communities.

“Maine is one of those places where you look out for your neighbors,” said Ava Gleason, a college student protesting in Scarborough. “To see people come in and rip apart a community is terrifying.”

Federal officials defend operation’s focus

Homeland Security officials have defended the operation, saying it targets individuals convicted of serious crimes. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement Thursday that ICE had removed “dangerous criminals” from Maine communities.

According to DHS, some of those arrested had prior convictions for offenses including aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and child endangerment. Officials said the operation includes roughly 1,400 targets nationwide.

Maine, a largely rural state of about 1.4 million residents, has a relatively small immigrant population, with foreign-born residents accounting for roughly 4% of the total. Still, Portland and Lewiston have become regional hubs for refugee resettlement in recent years, particularly for immigrants from African nations.

Community leaders say the visible enforcement surge has had an outsized impact, with some families reportedly staying home from work and keeping children out of school due to fear of arrest.

Detention of corrections officers raises questions

The operation has also ensnared individuals working within Maine’s own criminal justice system, adding to local unease.

York County officials said one of their jail corrections officers was detained by ICE after attending an immigration appointment this week and remained held at a detention facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts, as of Friday.

Separately, Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said one of his corrections officer recruits was arrested by ICE despite having passed background checks and federal employment verification. The individual had no known criminal history and was authorized to work in the United States, Joyce said.

“While enforcement actions are being promoted as targeting the ‘worst of the worst,’ the reality appears far more complicated,” York County officials said in a statement.

Immigrant describes alleged threat from ICE agent

Cristian Vaca, a 28-year-old roofer from Ecuador living in Biddeford, said ICE agents threatened him and his family outside his home on Wednesday. Vaca said he arrived in the United States legally in September 2023 and holds a work permit, a Social Security number, and pays income taxes.

Speaking through a translator, Vaca told The Associated Press he noticed agents taking photographs outside his home while he was inside with his wife and young son. Video recorded by Vaca shows an agent speaking to him through a closed front door.

Before leaving, the agent can be heard saying, “We’re going to come back for your whole family,” as a child’s voice is audible in the background. ICE has not publicly commented on the specific allegation.

Political stakes rise as race takes shape

The immigration dispute has quickly become a defining issue in Maine’s emerging Senate contest. Mills must first secure the Democratic nomination, where she faces oyster farmer Graham Platner, an outsider candidate endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Platner has sharply criticized ICE’s actions, alleging that legally present immigrants are being swept up in the operation. He posted a video on social media this week offering advice on how to resist enforcement.

“Over the past couple days, ICE’s operations are clearly rounding up people who are legally in the state of Maine,” Platner said in the video.

As the arrests continue and protests expand, Maine’s response to the federal enforcement surge is increasingly intertwined with national debates over immigration, accountability, and the limits of executive power — and with a Senate race likely to draw attention far beyond the state’s borders.