Trump administration starts immigration operations in Maine

The Trump administration has launched an immigration enforcement operation in Maine, targeting Somali immigrants, following a similar operation in Minnesota that sparked protests. This move has drawn scrutiny, especially after an ICE officer's shooting incident in Minneapolis.

Maine's Somali population has grown as asylum seekers settled there, but the state remains predominantly white and aging. Employers are increasingly turning to immigrants to fill job vacancies.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson emphasized the need for peaceful protests against the operation. ICE officials claimed around 1,400 individuals in Maine are their targets. President Trump previously criticized Somali immigrants, stating, “When they come from hell... we don’t want them in our country.”