U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Tuesday the launch of a statewide enforcement effort in Maine aimed at arresting criminal illegal immigrants with prior convictions and pending charges for violent and serious offenses.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the initiative, called Operation Catch of the Day, began this week and involves coordinated arrests across multiple jurisdictions. Federal officials said the operation is focused on individuals charged or convicted of crimes, including aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and offenses involving child endangerment.
The Department of Homeland Security said the operation targets approximately 1,400 individuals statewide, with dozens taken into custody during the initial phase. Officials confirmed the first arrests occurred on Tuesday.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the operation was launched in response to what federal officials described as resistance from state leadership to federal immigration enforcement.
McLaughlin said arrests during the first day of operations included individuals previously convicted or charged with violent offenses and crimes involving vulnerable victims. She said the enforcement effort is being carried out under immigration policies implemented during the administration of Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
ICE released information on several arrests made during the initial phase of the operation. Among those taken into custody was Dominic Ali, a Sudanese national convicted of false imprisonment, aggravated assault, assault, obstruction of justice, and violation of a protective order. Ambessa Berhe, a citizen of Ethiopia, was arrested after previous convictions for aggravated assault and cocaine possession. Elmara Correia, an Angolan national, was previously arrested on charges related to endangering the welfare of a child, according to ICE. Dany Lopez-Cortez, a Guatemalan national, was also arrested following a conviction for operating under the influence.
ICE said all individuals arrested during the operation were unlawfully present in the United States and are subject to removal proceedings under federal immigration law.
Federal officials emphasized that Operation Catch of the Day remains ongoing and said additional arrests are expected as enforcement actions continue across the state. DHS has not released a projected end date for the operation.
