Mainers Respond to Operation Catch of the Day,maine,sanctuary Politicians

People in Maine—citizens and noncitizens alike—have core rights when ICE conducts enforcement activity, and those rights can matter immediately during “Operation Catch of the Day.”

Federal officials describe Operation Catch of the Day as a DHS/ICE enforcement operation in Maine aimed at “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” DHS messaging has also criticized “sanctuary politicians” and state policies that limit local law enforcement cooperation. Local reports, however, describe a wider impact, including some asylum seekers and people with work authorization.

This guide explains the key rights that apply during ICE encounters and detention, the legal basis for those rights, who has them, and how to use them in real life. It also explains how to verify claims using official sources, and what to do if your rights are violated.

1) Overview: the right to remain silent and the right to refuse entry without a warrant

The most immediate right during an ICE encounter is the right to remain silent. In most situations, you also have the right to refuse entry into your home unless officers show a valid warrant or you consent.

Legal basis (high level):

• Fifth Amendment: protects against compelled self-incrimination and supports the right to remain silent.
• Fourth Amendment: protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, including entry into a home without proper authority.
• ICE arrest authority is largely administrative under the Immigration and Nationality Act, including INA § 236 (arrest and detention of noncitizens in removal proceedings) and related regulations at 8 C.F.R. § 287.

What to expect in the rest of this guide: a timeline of what has been publicly reported, how ICE operations typically work, what “targets” and “holds” mean, how asylum adjudications can be affected, and practical steps to protect yourself and your family while verifying information.

2) Timeline and key dates: why timing matters for pending cases

Reports and official statements describe a sequence where enforcement actions began before the operation was publicly announced. Timing matters because many people in Maine may have pending matters, such as pending asylum applications, pending work authorization renewals, pending immigration court hearings, or pending bonds or custody reviews.

As publicly described, Operation Catch of the Day was announced on January 21, 2026, and enforcement activity reportedly began on January 20. DHS later stated that “more than 100” people had been arrested since the launch.

A separate development intersects with enforcement. A USCIS policy memo dated January 1, 2026, titled “Hold and Review of all Pending Asylum Applications. from High-Risk Countries,” is described as placing adjudicative holds on many pending asylum cases for certain countries. Even without judging the legality of any individual hold, the practical effect can be delays and uncertainty.

Plain-language terms you may see:

• Arrested: taken into custody. In immigration, this can be administrative, not criminal.
• Detained: held in custody, often in an ICE facility or contracted jail.
• Immigration hold / detainer: a request to a local jail to hold someone for ICE. Detainers raise legal issues and may be limited by local policy.
• Pending adjudication: an application is filed but not yet decided.

Warning: Do not miss USCIS or immigration court deadlines because you are afraid to travel. Missing an appointment can trigger serious consequences, including a removal order in some cases. Speak with a lawyer immediately if you fear going in person.

3) Operational scope: targets, arrests, and locations (what numbers do—and don’t—prove)

DHS has stated ICE identified about 1,400 “targets” in Maine and reported over 100 arrests early in the operation. Those numbers do not automatically show that everyone detained was on a target list, or that every arrest involved a serious conviction.

Where activity has been reported: Portland, Lewiston, Westbrook, Biddeford, and Scarborough. In many ICE operations nationwide, encounters can arise through home visits based on an address lead, workplace encounters, traffic stops initiated by local police (if information is shared), jail transfers after a local arrest, probation or court appearances.

What “targets” can mean in practice: a “target” may be someone with a prior removal order, a prior criminal arrest, an old address in a database, or a name match. Lists can create collateral encounters, meaning other people are questioned or detained during the attempt to locate a target.

How detention can happen without a new criminal charge: ICE can detain under the civil immigration system. Many noncitizens are held under INA § 236 while removal proceedings are pursued. Some people are detained under mandatory detention rules in INA § 236(c) if ICE alleges certain criminal grounds apply. Others may request release on bond.

If ICE stops you, your words can become evidence in removal proceedings. Admissions about citizenship, entry, or prior immigration history can be used later.

4) Demographics, identities, and controversies: separating official messaging from local reporting

DHS has used the phrase “criminal illegal aliens.” In federal enforcement communications, that phrase often refers to noncitizens who are alleged to be removable, and alleged to have criminal history.

But “criminal” in a press release may describe an allegation or a charge, not necessarily a conviction. It may also refer to a prior conviction that is old or later modified.

Local reports describe detentions of Somali immigrants and asylum seekers from countries including Angola, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Sudan. It is important to distinguish these categories:

• Asylum seeker: someone who applied for asylum under INA § 208 and is awaiting a decision or hearing.
• Work-authorized noncitizen: someone with an EAD card. Work authorization does not always mean lawful status.
• Refugee/asylee: someone already granted protection. They may still face enforcement if the government alleges ineligibility, fraud, or certain criminal grounds.
• Undocumented: no current lawful status. This does not remove constitutional protections.

Why “no criminal record” claims can be complicated: records can differ by state, sealed cases may not appear, and there may be pending charges. At the same time, mistaken identity and database errors do occur. Treat both official claims and community reports seriously, and verify where possible.

If you learn someone was detained, ask for their A-number and where they are held. That information helps lawyers locate them.

Warning: Do not present false documents or false identity information. That can create criminal exposure and immigration bars that are difficult to fix later.

5) Policy context and legal framework: federal power, local limits, and asylum “holds”

Federal enforcement authority: ICE operates under federal law. States cannot cancel federal immigration enforcement. But states and localities can set limits on how their officers use resources, especially for civil immigration enforcement.

Local cooperation and detainers: Many “sanctuary policy” disputes involve whether local law enforcement will honor ICE detainers, provide jail release dates, allow ICE interviews in jails, or hold someone beyond their release time without a judicial warrant.

The Supreme Court has addressed limits on compelling states to carry out federal programs. In Murphy v. NCAA, 584 U.S. 453 (2018), the Court reaffirmed anti-commandeering principles. Immigration cooperation debates often reference those principles, though outcomes can vary by facts and jurisdiction.

LD 1971 and “sanctuary” debates: The reporting describes LD 1971 and Maine public safety directives that limit state and local officers from detaining people solely for immigration enforcement. These laws and directives typically address custody transfers and information sharing. They do not prevent ICE from acting on its own authority.

Intersection with asylum adjudications: If USCIS applies an adjudicative “hold” to a pending asylum case, the applicant may face delays. Delays can also affect eligibility timelines for work authorization based on asylum filing, travel decisions and Advance Parole planning, and the ability to stabilize family healthcare and insurance coverage.

Due process concerns can arise if a person is detained while a pending case is held. Still, outcomes depend on facts, custody posture, and filings. Some people may pursue bond, habeas litigation, or motions to advance hearings.

Key legal standards often arise in detention:

• Bond authority and limits under INA § 236.
• Credible fear and asylum screening for certain recent arrivals under INA § 235.
• Withholding of removal under INA § 241(b)(3) and protection under the Convention Against Torture in 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.16–1208.18.

Deadline: If an Immigration Judge orders removal, the typical appeal deadline to the BIA is 30 days from the IJ’s written order. Missing it can end the case. Ask counsel immediately about preserving appeal rights.

6) Community impact and local response: practical realities and “collateral detentions”

Community groups in Maine have reportedly created support networks, including grocery deliveries and neighborhood coordination to help families avoid leaving home. Schools have reportedly considered remote learning options due to attendance concerns. Some businesses have posted policies requiring a judicial warrant for entry.

What “judicial warrant” means : A judicial warrant is signed by a judge. Many ICE documents are administrative warrants signed by immigration officers, such as Forms I-200 or I-205. An administrative warrant may authorize ICE to arrest a person under immigration law, but it does not always authorize entry into a private home without consent.

Collateral detentions: In practice, collateral detentions can occur when ICE seeks one person and encounters others who cannot prove lawful presence on the spot, have prior orders they did not know about, have an old record hit or name match, or are present during an enforcement action.

If you are not the person ICE is looking for, you may still be questioned. Your safest approach is to stay calm, remain silent, and ask if you are free to leave.

Healthcare can be affected when a parent is detained. Families may miss appointments or stop filling prescriptions. If you have a medical need, consider preparing a written list of medications, doctors, and insurance information in a place a trusted person can access.

7) How to verify claims using official sources (and what to look for)

During fast-moving operations like Operation Catch of the Day, misinformation spreads quickly. Verification matters, especially when rumors affect school attendance, work, and healthcare.

Primary sources to check:

• DHS News releases and statements.
• ICE enforcement updates.
• USCIS policy memoranda at uscis.gov, including memo titles, dates, and whether they apply nationwide.
• Congressional letters and public statements, which can reflect oversight but are not agency directives.

How to cross-check effectively:

1. Match the date. Match the date of a claim to an actual release date.
2. Identify the issuing office. National headquarters vs. a field office can matter.
3. Separate priorities from rules. A press release describes enforcement goals. A policy memo governs adjudication steps.
4. Confirm jurisdiction. Some legal rules vary by federal circuit, and Maine is within the First Circuit.

If someone says ICE “cannot” do something, confirm whether that refers to state policy, a local business policy, or federal constitutional limits. Those are different.

Warning: If ICE or police contact you, do not rely on social media scripts alone. Ask for documents, take names and badge numbers if safe, and call a qualified attorney as soon as possible.

Practical rights checklist: who has rights, and how to exercise them

Who has these rights

• U.S. citizens: full constitutional protections. They can be questioned but may refuse to answer.
• Lawful permanent residents (LPRs): constitutional protections apply. LPRs can still be placed in removal proceedings based on certain conduct.
• Visa holders and parolees: rights apply, though border and airport settings have special rules.
• Undocumented people: constitutional protections still apply inside the U.S., including the right to remain silent.

How to exercise rights during an ICE encounter

1. Stay calm and do not run. Running can escalate the encounter.
2. Ask, “Am I free to leave?” If yes, leave quietly.
3. Use your right to remain silent. Say, “I choose to remain silent.”
4. Do not consent to home entry. Ask officers to slide any warrant under the door.
5. Do not sign documents you do not understand. Ask for an interpreter and a lawyer.

Common ways rights are waived or lost

• Consent: letting ICE into a home “just to talk.”
• Signing papers: accepting voluntary departure or stipulated removal without advice.
• Missing hearings: leads to in absentia removal orders in many cases.
• Talking too much: providing details about entry, work, or identity.

If rights may have been violated

Write down what happened as soon as possible. Include date, time, location, names, and witnesses.

Request records. For federal immigration records, consider FOIA through USCIS or ICE portals.

Speak with an attorney promptly about suppression arguments, bond, or habeas options. Remedies depend on facts and circuit law.

Legal help and official resources

USCIS Policy Memoranda: https://www.uscis.gov/laws-and-policy/policy-memoranda

EOIR Immigration Court information: https://www.justice.gov/eoir

Find legal assistance

AILA Lawyer Referral: https://www.aila.org/find-a-lawyer