US EditionMaine’s governor demands data on immigration arrests as fear spreads amid enforcement surge
Governor Mills demands transparency from federal officials after ICE's 'Operation Catch of the Day' arrested about 50 people, targeting 1,400 suspected criminal noncitizens in Maine.
- On Thursday, January 22, 2026, Gov. Janet Mills challenged federal officials to provide arrest warrants, real-time arrest numbers and detainee information, saying President Donald Trump's office has not returned her calls.
- The Trump administration launched `Operation Catch of the Day` on Tuesday to step up immigration enforcement in Maine, targeting about 1,400 people described by DHS as `the worst of the worst`.
- Video and on-the-ground reports documented ICE agents moving through Westbrook and South Portland, Maine, with federal officials saying about 50 arrests were made Tuesday, including some without criminal records.
- Her administration is working with municipal officials and community groups to monitor enforcement while school districts went on alert with two brief lockouts, and DHS and ICE did not respond Thursday.
- The operation's reception in Maine has political consequences as the timing drew attention because Mills traveled to San Francisco on the first day, while Democrats criticized the surge amid Portland and Lewiston immigrant communities' anxiety.
69 Articles
69 Articles
Maine leaders demand warrants, information about ICE arrests
Maine Gov. Janet Mills and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree participate in a round table event on Nov. 24, 2025. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star)Gov. Janet Mills and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, both Democrats, are demanding the Trump administration provide a detailed accounting of immigration arrests in Maine. After Mills called for arrest numbers, warrants and basic information about who is being detained during a Portland City…
'Show the warrants.' Maine's governor demands data on arrests as fear spreads over federal immigration operations
"In America, we don’t believe in secret arrests or secret police," Gov. Janet Mills said at a news conference, adding state officials do not know where detainees are being held.
Maine Governor Janet Mills demands data on immigration arrests as fear spreads amid enforcement surge - The Boston Globe
Federal officials have said about 50 arrests were made the first day and that roughly 1,400 people are targets of the operation in the mostly rural state of 1.4 million residents.
LA Daily News
Maine governor questions ‘secret arrests,’ sheriff says ICE targeted one of his recruits
Maine's Democratic governor has challenged federal immigration officials to provide arrest warrants, real-time numbers and information about detainees amid a sweeping enforcement operation in the state.
Mills demands data on immigration arrests as fear spreads in Maine
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills delivers her State of the State address, Jan. 30, 2024, at the State House in Augusta. Photo by Robert F. Bukaty of the Associated Press.This story was reported by Patrick Whittle, Rodrique Ngowi and Leah Willingham of the Associated Press and has been republished by The Maine Monitor as part of a content sharing arrangement between the two newsrooms. Gov. Janet Mills on Thursday challenged federal immigration officia…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
