Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) is requesting a meeting with President Trump after federal agents fatally shot a second person on Saturday in Minneapolis amid the Trump administration’s massive interstate immigration crackdown.
Her request follows the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) announcement that they have initiated “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine. DHS has already sent federal agents to the state as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration across the country.
“I am appalled and heartbroken by reports of yet another killing at the hands of federal immigration agents,” Mills said in a Saturday statement. “President Trump and [Homeland Security] Secretary [Kristi] Noem’s weaponization of Federal law enforcement against the people they are meant to serve is not only a grave violation of the Constitution, but a threat to the lives of law-abiding people in the cities and states they seek to occupy, including Maine.”
In addition to requesting a meeting with the president, Mills asked his administration to “immediately withdraw” federal agents, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, from her state.
“As Governor, I am requesting that the President of the United States meet with me so that I can demand in person that his Administration withdraw these untrained and reckless ICE agents in Maine and across the country who are stoking fear in communities, arresting legally present people, including law enforcement officials, and who pose a grave threat to public safety.”
Mills also appealed to elected officials in Congress to hold a public hearing with Noem and refuse to vote to fund ICE “until their lawless tactics and dangerous behavior ceases.”
The Senate is set to vote on a funding bill this week, which must be approved by Friday to avert a government shutdown. Democrats have pushed back against a bill that appropriates money to DHS following federal agents’ actions in Minnesota.
The Republican-backed package needs a minimum of eight Democrats to sign on in order to pass, but that reality appears increasingly unlikely after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) joined his colleagues on Saturday in saying he’ll vote no, citing the latest shooting.
The Maine governor ended her Saturday statement by encouraging her constituents to exercise their First Amendment rights peacefully.
“I am proud of Maine people for standing up in peaceful protest across our state and I continue to encourage peaceful protest as we show the world that we will always stand up for our values — support for the rule of law, due process, compassion, integrity, and justice,” Mills said.
