U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched an operation in Maine, saying it had approximately 1,400 targets in the state. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson said ‘Operation Catch of the Day’ targeted criminal illegal migrants in Maine. ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde said some of the alleged crimes included “rape of a child,” “drug trafficking,” and “sexual assaults.” Immigration authorities made dozens of arrests earlier this week. ICE launches new crackdown effort in Maine, arrests 50 illegal migrants on Day 1 https://t.co/kfB2xznybi pic.twitter.com/26Bxw2rU9E — New York Post (@nypost) January 22, 2026 Fox News has more: The effort in Maine comes amid President Donald Trump’s administration’s broader crackdown against illegal immigrants around the U.S., a key campaign pledge. Portland Mayor Mark Dion issued a statement last week expressing opposition to the prospect of ICE in the area. “Our community is anxious and fearful regarding the understanding that ICE is planning to send agents to Portland and Lewiston next week. We are a welcoming city. There is no evidence of unchecked criminal activity in our community requiring a disproportionate presence of federal agents. In that view, Portland rejects the need for the deployment of ICE agents into our neighborhoods,” Dion said in part of the statement last week. “As a reminder, Portland Police does not cooperate with ICE, and they do not participate in enforcing federal immigration law,” he noted. In a press conference, Maine Gov. Janet Mills referred to ICE agents as “secret police.” “@GovJanetMills refuses to work with ICE to remove criminal illegal aliens from Maine neighborhoods and protect American families. ICE remains committed to enforcing federal immigration laws and Defending the Homeland,” ICE stated. OPERATION CATCH OF THE DAY@GovJanetMills refuses to work with ICE to remove criminal illegal aliens from Maine neighborhoods and protect American families. ICE remains committed to enforcing federal immigration laws and Defending the Homeland. pic.twitter.com/nDD3xt2j8j — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) January 21, 2026 WMTW noted: Mills said no one in her administration has been in contact with the Trump administration about the ICE operation, and all she knows about arrests or targeted arrests is what she has read in media reports. The governor went on to say that the operations are disruptive for children and families across the state. “I’m hearing that many of the people being detained, or on that list I think, are family members here in Maine, people who are working here in Maine, people who have children in the school system, people who have children in homes in Maine, people with no criminal record, and that’s concerning,” Mills said. Watch the full press conference: