Federal Immigration Enforcement Intensifies in Maine as Minneapolis Protests Mount

The Trump administration has dramatically escalated its immigration enforcement efforts, launching a new initiative dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine, targeting undocumented immigrants accused of crimes, while continuing aggressive operations in Minneapolis that have sparked widespread protests and deepened a rift between federal and local authorities. Vice President JD Vance is slated to visit Minneapolis amidst the escalating tensions, acknowledging that federal agents have made “mistakes” but largely blaming local jurisdictions for failing to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

Maine Becomes Latest Front in Enforcement Push

Maine, home to a significant Somali population, has become the latest state to experience the Trump administration’s turbocharged immigration crackdown. “Operation Catch of the Day,” announced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), specifically targets approximately 1,400 individuals in the state accused of crimes such as aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child. Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that the operation aims to prevent “criminal illegal aliens” from “terrorizing American citizens,” directly criticizing Governor Mills and other “sanctuary politicians” in Maine for allegedly prioritizing undocumented individuals over public safety.

The operation has drawn strong condemnation from state and local officials. Maine Governor Janet Mills declared her administration would monitor ICE activity to “ensure the safety and civil rights of people” across the state are protected, emphasizing that federal authorities must present warrants. Days before the operation began, Governor Mills had already asserted that ICE’s “tactics are not welcome here.” Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows went further, stating, “There can be no pretense that ICE is here to keep us safe. They are here to stoke fears, play political games, and try to destroy the Maine spirit.” Bellows recently denied a request from Customs and Border Protection for confidential, undercover Maine license plates, citing a desire to prevent their use for “lawless purposes,” a move that drew criticism from the National Police Association urging state leaders to cease interfering with federal agents. In contrast, Republican leaders in Maine, such as state Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham, urged residents to remain calm, asserting that federal agents are “doing their jobs” and are “professionals.”

Minneapolis Gripped by Protests and Federal-Local Divide

The expansion into Maine comes as Minneapolis continues to be the epicenter of intense unrest over federal immigration operations. Tensions in the Twin Cities have been exceptionally high since the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE officer earlier this month. Her death ignited outrage against ICE’s continued presence and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) aggressive tactics, which often involve armed, masked agents. DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin has defended these actions, stating that DHS is taking “appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters.”

Clashes between federal agents and protesters have become a regular occurrence. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino, a prominent figure in the aggressive enforcement operations, described a “running battle” with what he called “violent protesters, anarchists, rioters” who he claims impede federal agents. Bovino himself was filmed lobbing a chemical gas canister into a crowd of protesters after a warning, an incident DHS attributed to agents needing “crowd control measures to disperse the hostile crowd.” Other videos show a man being pepper-sprayed at close range while pinned to the ground by federal agents, an incident that remains under review by DHS. Bovino also alleged that protesters have been “stalking” federal agents in public places, including attempting to prevent them from using restrooms at gas stations, and that off-duty agents were confronted in a restaurant for 40 minutes before a tactical team rescued them.

Local Authorities Accused of Non-Cooperation

A significant point of contention has been the alleged lack of cooperation from the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). Commander Bovino asserted that MPD has not responded to federal agents’ calls for assistance during tense protest situations, including the incident where he deployed tear gas. He recounted instances where Minneapolis Police “never showed up” when federal agents were confronted. While MPD’s official written policy states that members are expected to take “appropriate action to maintain public safety and restore order” if federal agents are assaulted or face immediate threats, the department has not publicly commented on specific instances of non-response. Marcos Charles, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations leader, further underscored this widening divide, stating that local leadership has “dropped the ball” and that the protesters are advocating for “dangerous offenders,” including alleged gang members and sex offenders.

Controversial Warrant Powers and Community Fear

Adding to the controversy is an internal ICE memo, dated May 2025 and obtained by the Associated Press, which asserts sweeping power for federal agents to forcibly enter people’s homes using administrative warrants rather than judicial warrants. This guidance, drafted by DHS officials, was reportedly not broadly distributed to ICE field offices or incorporated into new agent training, leading to confusion and concerns among Democratic lawmakers and even some ICE officials who learned of it through media reports. Traditionally, ICE training materials teach that administrative warrants cannot be used for entry on private property. Sources familiar with the matter told CNN that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller supported this newer guidance, reflecting a long-standing frustration within the Trump administration over limitations on immigration enforcement on private property.

The intensified enforcement has also created a climate of fear within communities. Dr. Janna Gewirtz O’Brien, president-elect of the Minnesota chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, reported that families, including legal residents, are terrified to seek critical medical care for their children due to fear of detention by federal agents. “We are seeing ICE in our hospitals and around our clinics,” she told CNN, noting that the fear extends particularly to “Black or brown” families. While DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that ICE does not conduct enforcement activities at hospitals unless there is an “active danger to public safety,” and only accompanies detainees for medical care as standard procedure, the community’s perception of risk remains high.

Vice President Vance’s Intervention and Political Fallout

Vice President JD Vance’s impending visit to Minneapolis aims to “calm the tensions,” a different tone from his usual defensive rhetoric. Speaking in Toledo, Ohio, Vance conceded that “of course, there have been mistakes made” in law enforcement, echoing President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks. However, he quickly shifted blame, stating that the primary way to reduce mistakes in immigration enforcement is through cooperation from local jurisdictions, pointing to the “chaos” in Minneapolis as a result of local authorities preventing ICE from doing their jobs. Vance urged people to “stop fighting immigration enforcement” and accused the “far left” of resisting ICE operations. Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests of two women, Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, who participated in a protest at a St. Paul church, interrupting a service to object to a pastor who also appears to be a top ICE official. Bondi emphasized that “WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP.”

The broader implications of these aggressive, nationwide operations are significant. Beyond the immediate confrontations, the federal government’s increasingly assertive stance, coupled with controversial directives like the administrative warrant guidance, signals a profound shift in immigration enforcement. This approach not only fuels deep divisions between federal and local governance but also erodes trust within immigrant communities, potentially leading to adverse public health outcomes and further polarizing the national debate on immigration policy, as evidenced by the contrasting reactions from state officials and community leaders versus federal agencies and their political allies.