MAINE — The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine on January 21, 2026, expanding the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign into New England.
DHS framed the effort as a targeted public-safety operation focused on people with criminal histories, while federal officials also criticized Maine leaders and warned about potential clashes if residents protest.
“We have launched Operation Catch of the Day to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in the state. On the first day of operations, we arrested illegal aliens convicted of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child,” said Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, in a statement dated January 21, 2026.
“We have launched Operation Catch of the Day to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in the state. On the first day of operations, we arrested illegal aliens convicted of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child.”
McLaughlin also attacked Maine’s leadership, saying, “Governor Mills and her fellow sanctuary politicians in Maine have made it abundantly clear that they would rather stand with criminal illegal aliens than protect law-abiding American citizens.”
Patricia Hyde, ICE deputy assistant director, told Fox News that federal agents had already made 50 arrests by Tuesday and identified more than 1,000 targets within the state.
Andrew Benson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine, issued a statement on January 19, 2026 urging residents to keep protests peaceful as enforcement activity ramps up.
“In the coming days, if Maine citizens seek to exercise their rights to assemble and protest, it is vital that these protests remain peaceful. Anyone who forcibly assaults or impedes a federal law enforcement officer. commits a federal crime and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Benson said.
“In the coming days, if Maine citizens seek to exercise their rights to assemble and protest, it is vital that these protests remain peaceful. Anyone who forcibly assaults or impedes a federal law enforcement officer. commits a federal crime and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Federal authorities reported the enforcement activity most heavily in Portland and Lewiston, cities with significant African immigrant and refugee populations.
DHS highlighted arrests tied to convictions that included aggravated assault and child endangerment, while describing the operation as a push against what the department called “criminal illegal aliens.” Officials did not provide an exhaustive breakdown of arrests beyond the examples cited publicly.
Hyde’s arrest figure aligns with a separate estimate that approximately 50 individuals were detained in the first 24 hours of the operation, spanning Jan 20-21, as the operation rolled into public view across Maine.
Beyond the public-safety messaging, the operation also landed in a volatile policy moment for Somali immigrants. DHS officials confirmed that Somali immigrants are a primary focus of the surge, even as officials publicly describe the overall mission as targeting people with criminal histories.
The enforcement push follows a January 2025 asylum pause and a more recent announcement regarding the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis, a legal protection that can allow people already in the United States to remain temporarily.
USCIS confirmed that nearly 2,500 Somali nationals currently hold TPS in the U.S., and over 1,300 have pending applications. Under the administration’s new policy, those individuals are required to leave by March 17, 2026.
The Maine operation sits inside a broader enforcement framework described as “Trump 2.0,” with federal officials and allies arguing for wider deportation priorities that extend beyond past approaches focused on narrower categories.
That wider posture has also sharpened tensions with state and local officials over cooperation with ICE, including disputes about detainers and federal requests tied to field operations.
One recent flashpoint involved Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who refused a federal request for confidential, undercover license plates for ICE vehicles. Bellows cited concerns over “abuses of power.”
The operation also unfolds alongside a funding threat President Trump announced on January 20, 2026. Trump said that starting February 1, the federal government will cease all payments to “sanctuary” jurisdictions that refuse to comply with ICE detainers.
Federal officials have cast such funding pressure as leverage to compel cooperation, while state and local officials in various jurisdictions have argued that public safety and local trust suffer when residents fear contact with authorities.
In Portland and Lewiston, local leaders reported anxiety and disruption as agents moved through immigrant neighborhoods and residents traded warnings about enforcement activity.
Portland officials said nearly 25% of immigrant students did not attend school on the operation’s first day, reflecting the immediate reach of federal action into classrooms and routines.
Community networks also mobilized to deliver food to families who felt too afraid to leave their homes, while some local businesses posted signs stating that ICE agents are not welcome without a warrant.
Portland’s school district, facing continued absences, was reportedly developing online learning plans for students who are currently too afraid to attend in-person classes due to the federal presence.
The strain on families has intersected with immigration status uncertainty, particularly for Somali households confronting the TPS timeline and people affected by the earlier asylum pause.
Benson’s warning about violence against officers underscored federal officials’ expectation that the operation could generate public confrontation even as it continues to expand across Maine.
For official updates, DHS points readers to its DHS Newsroom, which referenced a Jan 21 press release titled “ICE Launches ‘Operation Catch of the Day’ Targeting the Worst of Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens Across Maine.” USCIS has also posted Somalia TPS information and related policy alerts on its official site.
Trump Launches Operation Catch of the Day, Maine, January 21, 2026
Operation Catch of the Day launched in Maine on January 21, 2026, resulting in 50 arrests and identifying over 1,000 targets. While DHS emphasizes public safety and criminal histories, the operation heavily impacts Somali communities facing the end of TPS. Local schools in Portland reported massive absences as residents fear federal presence, while state and federal leaders clash over cooperation and funding threats.
