50 Arrested in Maine as ICE Launches 'Operation Catch of the Day'

PORTLAND, Maine — U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials said they have launched “Operation Catch of the Day,” a targeted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement effort in Maine. ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde told Fox News the operation has resulted in about 50 arrests so far. Hyde said the agency is targeting about 1,400 individuals in Maine. Hyde also criticized Maine’s law enforcement ban on collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying it has hindered operations. She told Fox News “agitators” in the state impeded enforcement actions, but added that the agency will continue until it has arrested all its targets. DHS did not immediately provide additional details on the specific locations of arrests or the identities of those targeted. Westbrook Mayor David Morse said in a social media post that ICE has been actively conducting operations and detaining people in Westbrook Tuesday and Wednesday. "At least one peaceful US citizen observer from Westbrook was targeted for intimidation by a masked federal law enforcement officer this morning," Morse said. "This is outrageous behavior from a federal authority, and I stand by our citizens’ rights to peacefully observe and/or protest." Reports of increased ICE activity spread across southern Maine on Tuesday, prompting brief school lockouts and rising anxiety among immigrant communities. Two Portland schools—Deering High School and Lincoln Middle School—briefly locked their doors around 9 a.m. after reports of ICE agents possibly on nearby Brighton Avenue. No threat was found, and the lockouts were quickly lifted, district officials said. "This is an understandably tense time in our community, as reports and rumors of immigration enforcement actions grow," a statement from Portland Public Schools said. "The Portland Public Schools will continue to follow our protocols for keeping students and staff safe, while also staying focused on our core work of teaching and learning. We will continue to provide updates directly to our PPS community as we have information to share." RELATED: Maine Republicans criticize Mills, Bellows for their response to rumors of heightened ICE activity Staff at the Cumberland Farms on Woodford Street in Portland told NEWS CENTER Maine they had received several reports of ICE agents in the area on Tuesday morning. Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said Tuesday afternoon there is an "increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Lewiston." He said he is basing that on posts he's seen online and what he's heard throughout town. Sheline has not been able to confirm that with ICE. "I know, given the national news, this may cause anxiety, fear or uncertainty for some in our community. In moments like this, what matters most is how we show up for one another and that we remember who we are and what we stand for as Mainers: the rule of law, the right to peacefully protest, and compassion for our neighbors," Sheline said in a statement. "I ask everyone to remain calm and peaceful, act lawfully and rely on verified information. I urge you to know your constitutional rights. If you encounter an ICE agent, it is very important to remain calm." He told NEWS CENTER Maine earlier that the city is working on finding ways to support one another. RELATED: Rumors of increased ICE activity in Maine circulate without official confirmation "Fear is definitely palpable on the street right now and I understand that," Sheline said. "What we need to do now is to find ways to support each other, and that work is ongoing and happening in a variety of ways." Elsewhere, Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis urged tribal members to carry tribal identification amid reports of federal detentions of Native Americans in other states. He said no ICE activity had been reported on tribal lands in Maine but cautioned members to stay informed. "We know that many of you have heard reports of ICE interactions involving individuals who are, by law and by birthright, citizens of Tribal Nations," Francis said in a statement. "News and social media reports indicate that ICE has detained several Native Americans throughout the country and have conducted raids on facilities located on Tribal lands. The Tribal government has verified that some of these reports are true, and some are false." For more local stories continue with us on our NEWS CENTER Maine+ streaming app.