As Communities Say 'ICE Not Welcome,' Maine Halts Undercover License Plates for Federal Agents [View all]

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https://www.commondreams.org/news/maine-federal-agents-ice

As Communities Say ‘ICE Not Welcome,’ Maine Halts Undercover License Plates for Federal Agents

“Maine is our home,” said Democratic US Senate candidate Graham Platner, “and we’re not going to let ICE agents terrorize our communities without resistance.”

JON QUEALLY
Jan 19, 2026

As residents of Maine continue to prepare for and speak out against an anticipated surge of federal immigration agents operating in their communities, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows over the weekend suspended the issuance of undercover license plates requested by the US Border Patrol.

With Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and others continuing to terrorize Minneapolis, people in Maine have been on high alert since last week, when reports indicated that Maine was next on the target list of President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“These requests in light of rumors of ICE deployment to Maine and abuses of power in Minnesota and elsewhere raise concerns,” Bellows said in a written statement on Saturday.

“We have not revoked existing plates but have paused issuance of new plates,” she added. “We want to be assured that Maine plates will not be used for lawless purposes.”

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