ICE launches new crackdown effort in Maine
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently initiated a new operation in Maine called “Operation Catch of the Day,” targeting the most dangerous illegal criminal migrants in the state. This operation aims to apprehend undocumented individuals who have been causing harm and fear in local communities, as stated by the Department of Homeland Security.
During the first day of the operation, approximately 50 migrants were arrested by ICE agents. According to ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde, there are around 1,400 targets in Maine that the agency is focusing on. These targets include individuals from countries such as Senegal, Somalia, Honduras, Guatemala, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and others.
Some of the offenses these migrants are accused of include rape of children, drug trafficking, and assaults. The operation has already led to the arrest of individuals with criminal backgrounds, such as a Sudanese man with over a dozen convictions in Maine, as reported by Fox News.
In a Fox News segment, ICE agents were shown arresting two Ecuadorian nationals facing drunk driving charges, as well as a repeat criminal offender from Sudan. Other arrests included individuals like Ambessa Berhe from Ethiopia, convicted of aggravated assault and cocaine possession, and Elmara Correria from Angola, previously arrested for endangering the welfare of a child.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized Maine’s sanctuary city policies, which have been the basis for ICE crackdowns in various Democrat-led states. Governor Janet Mills and other sanctuary politicians have been accused of prioritizing criminal illegal aliens over law-abiding American citizens, according to McLaughlin.
Despite concerns raised by Portland Mayor Mark Dion, who referred to the operation as a “war of terror,” he advised residents against interfering with ICE’s enforcement. The mayor emphasized the importance of safety and urged against interrupting law enforcement activities.
Overall, ICE’s Operation Catch of the Day in Maine is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on criminal illegal aliens and ensure the safety of American citizens. The operation highlights the ongoing debate over sanctuary city policies and the role of local governments in immigration enforcement.
