❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Jared Golden (D-ME) issued a statement urging his constituents not to interfere with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the state, acknowledging that their presence “serves the public interest.”
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Representative Jared Golden, ICE agents, Maine Governor Janet Mills (D), and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).
📍WHEN & WHERE: Maine, during the ongoing ICE operation “Catch of the Day,” announced this week by DHS.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Free speech and lawful protest are protected rights, but regardless of how anyone feels about immigration policy or ICE’s tactics, people must not obstruct or impede law enforcement activities.” – Jared Golden
🎯IMPACT: Golden’s stance has drawn criticism from progressive Democrats but praise from constituents in his conservative-leaning district.
Representative Jared Golden (D-ME) is one of the few Democrats around the country urging his constituents not to interfere with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations currently underway in his state. Golden stated that these operations, part of “Operation Catch of the Day” announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), “serve the public interest.”
Golden took an unusually firm stance in his statement, emphasizing, “A targeted law enforcement operation focused on individuals who have engaged in criminal activity serves the public interest.” He also reminded constituents that while peaceful protests are a protected right, obstructing law enforcement activities is unacceptable. “Regardless of how anyone feels about immigration policy or ICE’s tactics, people must not obstruct or impede law enforcement activities,” he wrote.
The operation, which has seen increased federal scrutiny of Maine‘s Somali immigrant community, has seen public pushback from other Democrat lawmakers. Governor Janet Mills expressed outrage over ICE’s tactics. Mills stated, “If the Federal government has warrants, then it should show them. But if they are separating working mothers from young children, solely because they sought freedom here and have committed no crime, then the Federal government is only sowing intimidation and fear.”
Meanwhile, Senator Susan Collins (R) also weighed in, stating, “People who are in this country legally should not be targets of ICE investigations. They should be able to continue to go to work, school, and other public places and carry on with their normal lives.”
The National Pulse reported earlier on Friday that Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) had falsely suggested it could be legal for people to use deadly force against masked ICE agents, under Arizona’s “Stand Your Ground” law, if they feel their life is in danger.
Maine is not the only state where government officials are pleading with far-left demonstrators to stop interfering with law enforcement. Late Thursday, Vancouver, Washington Police Chief Troy Price posted a video to X (formerly Twitter), asking the public to stop following, approaching, and harassing his department’s specialty units, including the city’s S.W.A.T. team and Crime Reduction Unit. According to Chief Price, both police units have been mistaken by demonstrators for ICE agents.
🚔 An important message from Vancouver Police Chief Troy Price regarding members of the public interfering with specialty unit investigations.#vanpoliceusa pic.twitter.com/d8FrZbzK9O
— Vancouver Police USA (@VancouverPDUSA) January 23, 2026
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