Portland, Maine — Maine’s Democratic governor urged federal immigration officials Thursday to provide warrants, real-time arrest numbers and basic information about the identity of detainees in Maine. Extensive enforcement operation In her state, she said residents were largely left in the dark as fear spread among immigrant communities.
“If they have warrants, show search warrants. In America, we don’t believe in secret arrests or secret police,” Gov. Janet Mills said at a news conference, adding that state officials do not know where detainees are being held.
Mills said President Donald Trump’s office did not return her phone calls about the operation that began this week. Federal officials said about 50 people were arrested on the first day, and that nearly 1,400 people are targets of the crackdown in the rural state of 1.4 million, 4 percent of whom are foreign-born and a smaller number reside illegally.
The operation takes place in Maine Confrontations Protesters in Minnesota communicate with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Ice underneath Audit In that case after the fatal shooting of Renee Goode by an agent.
Law enforcement activity has raised concerns in Maine’s largest cities, including Portland and Lewiston, which are home to large numbers of immigrants and refugees, especially from African countries. Community leaders say some families stay home, avoid work and keep their children home from school for fear of arrest.
Mills said the lack of information made it difficult for state officials to assess the scope or justification of the operation.
“I’m curious to know more about their alleged target,” she said. “Why who? Why now? What orders came from above? Who is giving the orders? We have communicated, we have asked questions. We have no answers.”
Mills said she would be shocked if federal agents were able to substantiate allegations that so many people in Maine have criminal charges against them.
“We mostly hear reports of people who have not been involved in any criminal activity,” she said. “If someone has evidence of criminal activity, we want to hear about it.”
Mills said school districts were “on alert,” especially in Portland and Lewiston, and that some students were not attending classes. She also said that companies that rely heavily on migrant workers have reported unrest.
“People are being separated from their families, from young children, from people who are part of the workforce here in Maine — the workforce that we need so badly and value so much,” Mills said.
The increased enforcement has drawn sharp criticism from Maine Democrats, who say the process is unnecessarily disruptive in a state with a relatively small undocumented population.
Portland Public Schools said earlier this week that two schools went into a brief “lockdown” to prevent anyone from entering during the school day amid concerns about nearby enforcement activity, though officials said no threat was ultimately found and the lockdowns were lifted within minutes.
Mills stressed that people are legally allowed to record law enforcement activities in public places, as long as they do not interfere with officers.
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond Thursday to requests for updated arrest numbers, warrant information or details about where detainees are being held.
DHS previously said the operation targeted what it described as “the worst illegal alien criminals,” citing arrests involving convictions for aggravated assault, false imprisonment and child endangerment.
Maine’s top federal prosecutor urged any demonstrations to remain peaceful and warned that people who interfere with federal agents could face prosecution. Mills said the state respects the law but questions the need for what she described as a tough approach.
A small group of protesters gathered Thursday afternoon outside the ICE field office in Scarborough. College student Ava Gleason of Scarborough said she joined the protest to signal opposition to what she described as fear spreading through the community.
“Maine is one of those places where you take care of your neighbors,” Gleason said. “We are a community, and to see people coming and tearing this community apart is terrifying.”
In downtown Portland, Portland resident Dave Coy held a cardboard sign reading “Due Process” in red and blue. He said he was concerned about the scope of immigration enforcement and raised questions about whether new recruits were receiving adequate training.
“People are being kidnapped from the streets and taken to undisclosed locations,” Cui said. “We are told that we have to prove our nationality, not everyone walks around with a passport in their pocket.”
Coy cited recent revelations Internal ICE memo o Obtained by The Associated Press that allows agents, under certain circumstances, to forcibly enter homes without a warrant, relying instead on administrative orders.
“These agents are not well trained in crowd control, and they believe they have rights they do not have,” Coy said. “It goes against the Constitution.”
__
Willingham reported from Boston.