Nearly 40 illegal aliens present in Maine without authorization and living in the U.S. illegally were detained in communities across Maine over the past 10 days, federal authorities said Friday.
The U.S. Border Patrol (CBP) confirmed that 39 individuals were arrested in a series of targeted enforcement sweeps spanning multiple towns including Houlton, Augusta, Madison, Rangeley, Palmyra, Dresden, Madawaska, Mechanic Falls and Oquossoc.
The detainees hail from a wide range of countries — including Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and China — and now face immigration charges under various sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Although the original story from a Bangor television news outlet made the arrests seem as if they were part of a sweeping and coordinated operation, they were in factor dozens of separate and targeted enforcement actions that were merely touted in the same press release to media.
Several of those taken into custody have criminal rap sheets, officials said. Offenses include assault and battery on a family member, theft, and criminal possession of a weapon. One individual has already been approved for federal prosecution on a reentry after deportation charge, which could carry serious prison time.
“The United States Border Patrol will continue ongoing operations to target criminal aliens for arrest, prosecution, and removal proceedings as appropriate,” said Craig Shepley, acting chief patrol agent for the Houlton Sector. “All of these efforts are for the safety and security for the State of Maine and the U.S. as a whole.”
Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the U.S. government shifted sharply away from a policy of allowing virtually all illegal aliens to freely enter the interior of the country with impunity.
Under President Trump, Border Czar Tom Homan, and Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chief Todd Lyons, the U.S. has been aggressively enforcing longstanding laws that allow the United States to control who can and cannot enter the country legally.
Thus far, the immigration proceedings have concentrated on individuals involved with gangs, narco-terrorists, violent criminals, and sex offenders.
In New England, the enforcement efforts have predominantly targeted the Boston area, which has historically served as a central location for heroin and fentanyl trafficking networks run by Dominican criminal organizations. These groups often use stolen Puerto Rican identities to disguise themselves as U.S. citizens.
Federal immigration agents are flexing their muscle under President Donald Trump’s second term, boasting tens of thousands of arrests and deportations in what ICE is calling a historic enforcement blitz.
In a bombshell report also released this week, ICE officers revealed that in just the first 100 days of the new administration, agents have nabbed 66,463 undocumented immigrants and deported another 65,682 — the majority with criminal rap sheets.
“Three out of four people arrested were criminal illegal aliens,” ICE said, underscoring the agency’s renewed “worst first” strategy to prioritize public safety threats.
Acting ICE Director Lyons praised the efforts, highlighting the arrest of 2,288 gang members linked to violent crews like MS-13, 18th Street and Tren de Aragua. Nearly 1,330 were tied to sex crimes, and close to 500 were accused or convicted of murder.
“These brave men and women of ICE are protecting our families, friends and neighbors,” Lyons said.
The arrests came as ICE intensified coordination with local cops under the controversial 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to act as immigration agents. Since Trump returned to office on Jan. 20, ICE has inked 444 new agreements with police and sheriff’s departments — bringing the total to 579 nationwide.
The feds also cracked down on employers, with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arresting over 1,000 undocumented workers and slapping more than $1 million in fines on businesses accused of hiring them. HSI also claims it busted a smuggling ring trafficking up to 700 people into the U.S. annually.
ICE Deputy Director Madison D. Sheahan called the surge in arrests and removals a national security win, saying, “Our communities are becoming safer each day.”
The agency’s sweeping push comes amid sharp debate over immigration policy, with critics slamming Trump’s tactics as draconian while supporters argue they’re long overdue.
Authorities have not released the names of any of those arrested in Maine.
However, immigration enforcement and removal operations in Maine typically use the Cumberland County Correctional Facility as a temporary holding area for illegal aliens prior to their deportation.
Individuals marked for ICE deportation will have their Arresting Agency and Judicial Status listed as ICE, or Immigration Naturalization Service, the former name of what is now called U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Currently, there are a number of INS holds sitting in the Cumberland County jail.
How could they omit Portland? I can give them addresses. It was bad enough with “press 1 for English” now majority Muslim invaders are coming here and we are handing over, cash, cars, housing etc only to facilitate them reproducing us in to the minority. Come on people: look at England. They have Muslim only areas where the constabularies won’t even go. The invaders rule themselves. England was a trial for the USA. THEY are going to overthrow us from within and we’re not only letting it happen, we’re INVITING IT.
Great news, keep it up until they are all gone.
We need to see the enablers charged and jailed. Gen Mills would be a good one to start with. Than the guy in charge of the “New Americans” dept in Augusta next.
The Landlords, Employers and ANY ONE ELSE who aids or provides any services to these Invaders must be Persecuted .
👋👋
OMG this is terrible. Only 39, common man you can do better than that.
Maine Medical Center is harboring illegals!!!!!
Unfortunately it’s likely, given the country of origin and the places of residence in Maine, these were mostly guys who are just working and not here just for General Assistance handouts. Maines problem is with people abusing asylum and costing taxpayers a fortune. They would do well to crack down on people driving uber and DoorDash under other peoples names and thus claim little to no income so they can get rent and groceries paid for by GA. These raids just kind of hit people making an honest dollar who don’t affect taxpayers
Many more and a lot receiving TANF, SNAP and Mainecare. Sadly, legislators also passed legislation ALLOWING even those denied Employment Authorization, subsequent denial asylum claims can continue to receive TANF, SNAP and Mainecare.
A number are also working under the table (Uber, DoorDash, etc.) as well as using newborn Social Security numbers to work under the radar. In some instances using another’s immigration paperwork from crossing border OR change the order of name (i.e., Thomas John Smith to John Thomas Smith). Variation in a name that some do not ‘look’ at or for prior to adding to system.
Driver License and state ids given when US Citizens must prove birth…
I’m very concerned that we are moving from “innocent until proven guilty” to “guilty with no option to prove innocent”.
I’d like ICE to be far more transparent. Initially they said that many of these were violent criminals and then later said they’d been merely accused of violent crimes.
They claim they are undocumented, but we know from many national reports that ICE are arresting people waiting for USCIS decisions, people on TPS, students, green card holders and citizens.
I would like far more transparency
what a joke!! 39 people… ICE could go to one hotel and get more than that!! i thought they were going around the jails and scooping them up, but now i hear they dont get scooped up until they get convicted of the crime charged!! the government is only removing the ones they have to imprison…. selective enforcemnet much!! looks like the ones who OBEY will stay
look at the big picture people, FACT our govenrment has flooded our country with anyone who would come, FACT our governmnet is culling those who are here…. actions not words… what is the objective, what end state does the government wish to achieve… ask yourself what is coming down the pipe?
They should go to Brunswick to that brand new building where Janet (see you in court) Mills gave them all a year free rent all utilities paid, and get them the hell out.
Check all judges, state legislature and the Blaine House. Start right there.
Great job, about time, and enough with tv news reports saying “ a Maine man”, or the Portland Press Herald reporting “ a Portland man” tell the truth!! Stop covering for illegal criminals! Enough is enough trying to gaslight the public, the citizens of Maine are on to you! C’mon man!
Anybody complaining about lack of due process or no “transparency,” welp, if you are here illegally it’s pretty easy to prove and the process is complete. Next step, hit the road and apply to get in legally. Even then, legal immigration is so full of holes and exceptions it is a distinction without a difference. ENOUGH already!
My money is on Homan, not the Howoman.
Now do Southern Maine!
You’ll need an entire fleet of buses.
And I don’t feel bad for them.
If you’re here illegally you’re a criminal.
Illegal means law breaker for all you people who think these “New Mainers” 😖 should be left alone.
No one asked us taxpayers & citizens if we wanted our taxes to pay for living expenses plus extra cash or if we we wanted property taxes to go up so their kids can go to our schools, now at the bottom in the country.
See ya!!! As one who jumped through all the hoops for a green card, and now citizenship,I have absolutely less than zero sympathy for them.
Did ICE clear these removals with our sweet governor Mills? Did they get her/his approval? Mills might ask for them to be returned!
39 pieces of good news for a Monday morning. Now, ICE, how about visiting the couple of hundred illegal pot grows and policing up all of those who grow the stuff and are illegal aliens? If you encounter a lawyer by the name of Mills who is helping the illegal aliens set up the real estate transactions, you might bust him as well for aiding illegal aliens.
Mills just lost a hand full of future voters.
When you come to the USA illegally you do not have rights US citizens have. First off, by entering our country illegally you broke the law and therefore you are a criminal!
If you are in Mexico illegally and are caught they throw you in jail and then proceed to deport you with 48 hours. We welcome migrants, just get in line and come here legally or get deported!