DHS deployed 159 agents to Maine during immigration surge

Court records reveal that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deployed 159 agents to Maine during an immigration enforcement surge in January. The deployment included personnel from various regions, such as California, New York, and Illinois.

The information surfaced during a lawsuit filed by Maine residents alleging that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents violated the constitutional rights of individuals who were filming their activities. The plaintiffs claim that observers were told on camera they were being added to a watchlist, and some individuals reported being detained at the border.

While the government has denied the existence of an observer database and filed a motion to dismiss the case, court documents included partial depositions from federal agents. A Department of Justice spokesperson noted that the inclusion of certain agent names in file names was an error.