Maine Gov. Mills Warns Possible ICE Operation Targeting Somali Community 'Not Welcome'
Maine Gov. Janet Mills said in a Jan. 16 TV interview that she has received no confirmation or denial from the Trump administration about reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement could begin a major operation in Portland and Lewiston as soon as next week, but is preparing for the possibility after local mayors alerted residents. Mills, a former district attorney and attorney general, condemned Trump’s recent claim at the Detroit Economic Club that 'Somali scams' are happening in Maine, calling it unconstitutional and discriminatory to target an entire Somali‑American community over alleged misconduct by a few individuals. She stressed that the state is ready to investigate any substantiated fraud cases but warned that 'provocative' ICE tactics or sweeps that endanger civil rights and civil liberties 'are not welcome here,' contrasting Maine’s training standards for law enforcement with violent arrest videos emerging from Minnesota. The interview signals a looming confrontation between a Democratic governor and federal immigration agencies as Trump’s Minnesota‑style crackdown appears to expand to new states with sizable Somali‑American populations.
📌 Key Facts
- Maine mayors in Portland and Lewiston have warned residents that ICE agents could arrive 'as soon as next week.'
- Gov. Janet Mills says the Trump administration has not responded to her efforts to confirm or deny a planned operation.
- Trump recently claimed at the Detroit Economic Club that 'Somali scams' are occurring in Maine, echoing his rhetoric about Somali‑run fraud in Minnesota.
- Mills says she welcomes evidence of fraud but calls racially targeting the Somali‑American community 'wrong' and 'unconstitutional' and says provocative ICE tactics are 'not welcome' in Maine.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2025, the Somali population in Lewiston, Maine, is approximately 1,227, making up a significant portion of the city's demographics, while Portland has about 714 Somali residents.
Somali Population in Maine by City : 2025 Ranking & Insights — Neilsberg
Somali refugees began secondary migration to Lewiston, Maine, around 2001, attracted by affordable housing, better education for children, and access to welfare benefits, with numbers growing to around 10,000 by 2013 but reported at about 6,000 statewide in 2022.
History of Somalis in Maine - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
In 2025, Maine's Medicaid program was reportedly defrauded of millions of dollars through schemes involving Somali-tied nonprofits, such as Gateway Community Services, which lost state funding amid allegations of submitting fraudulent claims for personal care aide services.
Maine nonprofit with Somali ties loses state funding after fraud claims — Fox News
The influx of Somali immigrants to Lewiston since the early 2000s has contributed to economic revitalization through new businesses and a younger workforce, but also increased housing demand, with migration driving up costs and reducing available supply in Maine from 2019 to 2025.
Demographic and Economic Outlook for Maine — Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services
Between 2010 and 2020, 1,129 Somali refugees were resettled in Maine through programs like those facilitated by Catholic Charities, contributing to family reunification and secondary migration patterns.
The Phenomena Of Acculturation In First-Generation Somali Refugee Youth In Maine: A Pilot Study — DUNE: DigitalUNE
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