In a significant enforcement action, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted an operation named “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine, resulting in numerous arrests this past Tuesday.
According to Fox News correspondent Griff Jenkins, over 50 individuals were apprehended on Tuesday, with additional arrests continuing into Wednesday as part of the ongoing operation.
ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde stated on Tuesday that the agency has identified approximately 1,400 targets in Maine. These individuals are suspected of serious offenses including “rape of a child, drug trafficking,” as well as “sexual assaults, simple assaults,” and “driving while under the influence.”
A federal law enforcement agent was seen outside a residence during one of the raids in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. (Photo by Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“You name it,” Hyde remarked, emphasizing the variety of crimes associated with those on the target list.
This initiative in Maine aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to intensify actions against illegal immigration across the United States, fulfilling a significant campaign promise.
President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the White House briefing room about the administration’s accomplishments on the anniversary of his first year of his second term in office, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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.
