Maine says no confidential plates for Border Protection vehicles, citing ‘abuses of power’
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — According to AP, an official in Maine said Wednesday that she turned down a request for more undercover license plates for U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicles, citing “abuses of power” in Minnesota and elsewhere during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
In Minnesota, meanwhile, a federal judge said he’s prepared to grant bond and release two men after hearing conflicting testimony about an alleged assault on an immigration officer. Prosecutors are appealing. One of the men was shot in the thigh last week.
The state remains a major focus of immigration sweeps by agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. State and local officials who oppose the aggressive effort were served with federal grand jury subpoenas Tuesday for records that might suggest they were trying to stifle enforcement.
A political action committee founded by former Vice President Kamala Harris is urging donors to come to the aid of Gov. Tim Walz, her 2024 running mate, and contribute to a defense fund.
“The Justice Department is going after Trump’s enemies list,” Harris’ email said, referring to President Donald Trump.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, said she won’t grant a request for confidential license plates sought by Customs and Border Protection, a decision that reflects her disgust over the tactics of immigration officers elsewhere. Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. A message seeking comment from CBP was not immediately returned.
“We have not revoked existing plates but have paused issuance of new plates. We want to be assured that Maine plates will not be used for lawless purposes,” Bellows said.
Portland Public Schools, the largest and most diverse district in Maine, said it kept the doors locked at two schools for a few minutes on Tuesday because of concerns about activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This is an understandably tense time in our community, as reports and rumors of immigration enforcement actions grow,” the district said.
Greg Bovino of U.S. Border Patrol, who has commanded the Trump administration’s big-city immigration crackdown, said more than 10,000 people in the U.S. illegally have been arrested in Minnesota in the past year, including 3,000 “of some of the most dangerous offenders” in the last six weeks during Operation Metro Surge.
Bovino defended his “troops” and said their actions are “legal, ethical and moral.”
Julia Decker, policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, said advocates have no way of knowing whether the government’s arrest numbers and descriptions of the people in custody are accurate.
Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Minneapolis on Thursday for a roundtable with local leaders and community members, according to sources familiar with his plans who spoke on condition on anonymity because the trip had not yet been officially announced.
