U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out a significant operation in Maine on Tuesday, resulting in numerous arrests as part of an initiative dubbed Operation Catch of the Day.

According to Griff Jenkins of Fox News, over 50 individuals were apprehended on Tuesday, with ICE officials indicating that more arrests were anticipated on Wednesday.

“We have approximately 1,400 targets here in Maine,” stated Patricia Hyde, ICE’s Deputy Assistant Director, highlighting offenses such as “rape of a child, drug trafficking” along with “sexual assaults, simple assaults,” and “driving under the influence.”

A federal law enforcement officer is seen during a raid outside a residence in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“You name it,” Hyde added, emphasizing the extensive nature of their target list.

The effort in Maine comes amid President Donald Trump’s administration’s broader crackdown against illegal immigrants around the U.S., a key campaign pledge.

President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the White House briefing room about the administration’s accomplishments on the anniversary of his first year of his second term in office, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Portland Mayor Mark Dion issued a statement last week expressing opposition to the prospect of ICE in the area.

“Our community is anxious and fearful regarding the understanding that ICE is planning to send agents to Portland and Lewiston next week. We are a welcoming city. There is no evidence of unchecked criminal activity in our community requiring a disproportionate presence of federal agents. In that view, Portland rejects the need for the deployment of ICE agents into our neighborhoods,” Dion said in part of the statement last week.

“As a reminder, Portland Police does not cooperate with ICE, and they do not participate in enforcing federal immigration law,” he noted.