Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) has broken ranks with fellow Democrats by backing federal immigration enforcement actions sweeping through his home state, including an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation targeting criminal aliens in Lewiston.
Golden said he supports the effort, known as Operation Catch of the Day, so long as it remains focused on individuals engaged in criminal activity.
In a statement emailed to Maine Public, Golden said:
“So long as this remains a targeted law enforcement operation focused on individuals who have engaged in criminal activities, then I believe it legitimately serves the public interest.”
The congressman’s comments put him directly at odds with local Democrat leadership in Lewiston, where city officials have attacked federal agents and accused ICE of acting without compassion.
Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline condemned the operation, claiming Immigration and Customs Enforcement was employing “heavy-handed tactics.”
In a statement accusing ICE of showing “a complete lack of humanity and concern for basic human welfare,” Sheline said:
“Lewiston stands for the dignity of all the people who call Maine home.
“We will never stop caring for our neighbors.”
Federal officials, however, have confirmed that immigration enforcement operations are now active across Maine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Fox News that approximately 50 individuals had been arrested so far, with roughly 1,400 illegal immigrants statewide targeted as part of the operation.
The debate over immigration enforcement has intensified following a deadly confrontation tied to anti-ICE activism in Minnesota.
Authorities said anti-ICE activist Alex Pretti, 37, was shot and killed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis.
He was shot during a scuffle while intervening as agents attempted to arrest an illegal alien wanted for violent assault.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents recovered a loaded handgun and an extra magazine from Pretti.
Video from the scene reportedly shows agents shouting “gun” as they struggled with him.
Officials said Pretti was reaching for his firearm and “violently resisted,” prompting an agent to fire in self-defense.
While progressive officials and activists have moved to condemn federal agents, Golden’s stance underscores a growing divide within the Democratic Party, between lawmakers willing to acknowledge the necessity of enforcing immigration law and those openly siding with anti-ICE protests.
For now, Golden has made clear where he stands: targeted enforcement against criminal activity serves the public interest.
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