The Department of Homeland Security launched a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Maine, dubbing the push in the state, which is famous for its fishing and lobster industry, “Operation Catch of the Day.”
This is DHS’s latest Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation following a year of over 3 million reported illegal immigrant deportations under the Trump administration through self-deportations and targeted deportation efforts nationwide. DHS said the operation in Maine began on Tuesday.
“Governor Mills and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Maine have made it abundantly clear that they would rather stand with criminal illegal aliens than protect law-abiding American citizens. We have launched Operation Catch of the Day to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in the state,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
Throughout the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, DHS signed over 1,200 state and local partnerships for immigration operations, the department announced on Tuesday. At the state level, these operations included “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida, “Cornhusker Clink” in Nebraska, “Louisiana Lockup” in the Pelican State, and “Speedway Slammer” in Indiana, which are all red states.
Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) spoke out against the operation before its announcement, telling DHS that “Maine will not be intimidated.” She told Mainers that her administration was “taking active steps to prepare” for the crackdown.
“To the federal government, I say this: if your plan is to come here to be provocative and to undermine the civil rights of Maine residents, do not be confused, those tactics are not welcome here,” Mills said in her three-minute address. “We stand for the rule of law, we oppose violence, we stand for peaceful protest, we stand for compassion, integrity, and justice.”
DHS MORE THAN DOUBLES CASH INCENTIVE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO LEAVE US
On the first day of the main operation, ICE arrested several illegal immigrants from countries such as Sudan, Ethiopia, Angola, and Guatemala after their various previous arrests and convictions.
“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,” McLaughlin said.
