By Andy O’Brien
On Wednesday, the mayors of Portland and Lewiston confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are likely to step up operations in Maine in the coming days. The announcements came as the Burundian Community Association confirmed the arrest of Bertin Ivyizavyose, a Burundian immigrant, who was detained by immigration agents while on his way to a gym in Biddeford the same day.
The news has heightened anxiety across Maine’s immigrant communities, particularly in Portland and Lewiston, two cities home to large immigrant and refugee populations.
“Our community is anxious and fearful regarding the understanding that ICE is planning to send agents to Portland and Lewiston next week,” said Portland Mayor Mark Dion. “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.
“While we respect the law, we challenge the need for a paramilitary approach to the enforcement of federal statutes. The consequence of law enforcement should not be chaos and violence, which only results in making Portland less safe,” Dion added.
Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline also issued a statement confirming that ICE is likely to conduct operations in his city.
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“I urge residents and businesses to know their rights and have a plan of action if ICE stops them in the street, visits their home, or visits their business,” Sheline said. “I understand that this is an unsettling time for many of our residents. Lewiston is a strong city and we care about our community and each other. Please check on your neighbors and stay safe.”
Both Dion and Sheline emphasized that Portland and Lewiston police departments do not cooperate with ICE and do not participate in enforcing federal immigration law. Dion also urged residents who may choose to protest to “keep your efforts peaceful and consistent with the expectations for lawful behavior that we all share.”
Neither mayor specified when ICE operations might begin. However, ICE vehicles have been spotted in Southern Maine, and the agency maintains an office at 40 Manson Libby Road in Scarborough. A Portland city spokesperson told the Portland Press Herald that ICE has not informed Portland police of any planned enforcement actions, noting that the city has made a clear decision not to cooperate with the agency.
Members of Maine’s immigrant communities have reported widespread fear and anxiety that they could be targeted by ICE, which has been criticized for heavy-handed arrests of individuals with and without legal status, including U.S. citizens. Those fears have been intensified by rampant rumors circulating on social media about ICE sightings and enforcement actions across the state.
The mayors’ announcements come as ICE has been conducting large-scale operations in Minneapolis–St. Paul involving hundreds of agents targeting immigrants and clashing with protesters. The Twin Cities have seen sustained anti-ICE protests over the past week following the fatal shooting of ICE observer Renée Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, 2026, during a federal immigration enforcement operation in a residential area just blocks from where George Floyd was killed in 2020. President Donald Trump and federal officials described the incident as an act of self-defense, stating that Good was “very disorderly” and resisted law enforcement, and asserting that officers were acting to protect themselves. Trump also attributed the circumstances to broader tensions in law enforcement and blamed what he described as the “Radical Left” for hostility toward federal officers.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that it has opened investigations into Gateway Community Services LLC, a Somali-founded organization, and halted Medicaid payments to the company on December 23, 2025, citing “credible allegations of fraud.” The state is seeking to recoup $1.1 million for alleged improper billing, and the case has been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for potential prosecution.
In late December 2025, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)—a division of the Department of Homeland Security—visited Gateway Community Services and other Somali-owned businesses in Lewiston, requesting documentation proving employees’ work eligibility. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), HSI shared a photo of agents at Gateway’s office, stating:
“HSI is actively conducting audits of businesses in Maine to protect America from fraud & ensure businesses only employ legal workers.”
Amjambo Africa observed a series of statements circulating in different languages across immigrant communities, with community representatives urging members to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise caution amid the uncertainty. Some parents told Amjambo Africa that they feared accompanying their children to school, while several mothers raised questions about what would happen to their children if a parent were arrested during an immigration operation.
On Wednesday evening, Governor Janet Mills issued a video statement acknowledging “speculation” that ICE may be preparing to carry out operations in Maine, but said her administration has been unable to obtain confirmation from the Department of Homeland Security. She said she is working with municipalities to prepare for any potential large-scale enforcement action.
“To the Federal government I say this: if your plan is to come here to be provocative and to undermine the civil rights of Maine residents, do not be confused — those tactics are not welcome here,” Mills said. “To the people of Maine: I know you care deeply about protecting your neighbors, as do I. And I know that many of you are angry about the potential for any enhanced Federal law enforcement presence in Maine. I feel that too.
“But if they come here, I want any Federal agents — and the President of the United States — to know what this state stands for. We stand for the rule of law. We oppose violence. We stand for peaceful protest. We stand for compassion, for integrity and justice.”
Mills said she would continue to seek answers from the federal government and share any information she receives with the public, adding, “Maine will not be intimidated, and we will not betray the values that make us who we are.”
