Maine’s Governor Advocates Against ICE Following Shooting Incident
Maine’s Democratic governor, Janet Mills, recently used a shooting involving an immigration officer in Minnesota to underscore her opposition to ICE and requested a meeting with President Trump.
Mills shared a letter addressed to the President on social media, urging the federal government to cease its enforcement of immigration laws within the state.
In her statement, following the tragic death of a federal agent in Minnesota, she highlighted her demand for the removal of ICE agents from Maine.
She criticized the “weaponization of federal law enforcement,” expressing concern about its implications for safety in communities.
Mills stated, “I am both appalled and heartbroken by the recent reports of violence attributed to federal immigration agents. This misuse of federal law enforcement is a serious violation of constitutional rights and poses threats to law-abiding citizens across states, including Maine.”
As the governor, she is calling for direct dialogue with the President to advocate against “untrained and reckless” ICE agents who are instilling fear in local communities, even affecting law enforcement personnel. Moreover, she is pushing Congress to hold a hearing and cut off funding to ICE until they amend their methods.
Mills praised the citizens of Maine for participating in peaceful protests and reaffirmed her commitment to uphold values like rule of law, due process, and justice.
Despite her outspoken opposition, Mills has faced challenges in hindering ICE’s “Operation Catch of the Day,” which launched in Maine recently. Similar to her Democratic counterparts, she has often leveraged ICE activities as a platform to call for federal policy changes while positioning herself as a supporter of illegal immigrants.
Additionally, Mills had previously endorsed a state law that restricts police cooperation with federal law enforcement, though that law is yet to be enacted.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) noted that within the first few hours of a recent operation, several violent offenders were apprehended, including a kidnapper and others with serious criminal records. Overall, more than 100 individuals from a list of around 1,400 illegal offenders in Maine have been arrested.
