Emergency March to Protest Lawless Tactics of ICE in Maine
On January 23, 2026, we organized and led an emergency march in Portland of lawyers and other concerned Mainers to protest the blatantly unconstitutional tactics used by ICE in its “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine’s largest cities. We chose the East Bayside neighborhood for our march because it was actively being targeted by ICE “to let residents know we have their back.” We brandished posters stating, “Maine Lawyers and Judges Will Enforce your Rights if ICE breaks them;” “Without Due Process, It’s Kidnapping” and “Protect our Neighbors.”
Our March earned widespread reporting by the media, including the Boston Globe and leading digital and tv news media in Maine.
https://www.mainepublic.org/immigration/2026-01-23/maine-lawyers-hold-emergency-protest-decry-unconstitutional-ice-tactics
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/23/metro/maine-protests-ice-surge
Member Carol Sipperly was featured in the press holding a poster stating, “No Breaking the Law; Harming Observers; Wearing Masks.” Member David Webbert was quoted, “Lawyers are officers of the justice system. This is not normal, this is outrageous, and Mainers need to know that lawyers recognize that.”
We called out ICE for arresting Mainers based solely on their race and appearance, using excessive force, violating basic due process rights (including the right to a lawyer and a timely hearing), and falsely claiming the right to enter homes without judicial warrants even though the Fourth Amendment prohibits such intrusions. We were quoted, “ICE came to Maine and is targeting people of color to fulfill their quotas. You can’t get a more blatant violation of the rule of law.”
We also criticized ICE for moving detainees out of state from the Cumberland County jail in blatant violation of orders by Maine federal judges temporarily barring the federal government from moving these detainees out of Maine. We emphasized that ICE was not above the law and that one of the members of our group planned to sue ICE under the Federal Tort Claims Act for damages.