Janet Mills Responds to ICE Operation Speculation in Maine

The Maine governor has issued a statement regarding speculation that the federal government may be turning its attention to Maine.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is running in the 2026 midterm elections to try to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins and win the U.S. Senate seat she now holds.

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Mills issued a statement on Wednesday, January 14th, acknowledging speculation that the federal government may conduct law enforcement operations in Maine in the coming days.

In her statement, she noted that her administration has attempted to confirm plans with federal officials but has not received confirmation. Mills said she has directed the Maine State Police to work closely with local law enforcement and is coordinating with officials in Portland and Lewiston, along with the Attorney General’s Office, to prepare for and manage any necessary response.

Mills said if the federal government plans to come to Maine to be provocative or undermine the civil rights of Mainers, those actions are not welcome.

The message included support for peaceful protest, while city officials in Lewiston and Portland say they are preparing for the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

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And there you have it! At the time of publication, Mills had not received confirmation that ICE agents will be coming to Maine, despite the speculation.

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