Lewiston-Auburn continues to be hotspot for ICE activity

Federal Immigration Agency’s Recent Detainments Raise Concerns in Lewiston‑Auburn

Lewiston, Maine – In the past six months, federal immigration agents have detained more people in Lewiston and Auburn than in the previous two years combined, according to an analysis released by the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition. The uptick has left many families grappling with the sudden loss of a breadwinner and the financial burden of high bail fees, while the state’s immigration‑rights advocates accuse the agency of targeting individuals with no criminal record.

The most publicized arrest occurred on September 3, when ICE agents detained Aderno Pinto Sebastiao, an Angolan national, as he walked back to his job at Bangor Savings Bank. Sebastiao has no criminal record. A federal court judge later ordered that he could not be transferred out of state because he had a pending asylum application. Despite the order, the ICE locator system shows him currently held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts.

“[The arrest of Sebastiao] was a shock to the community. It’s a reminder that people who are paying taxes, working, and living in the state can be taken away,” said Ruben Torres, director of advocacy and policy for the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition. “We are only capturing a fraction of what’s going on in the state.”

Data released by the coalition show that 73 people were apprehended in Maine in July alone – the second‑highest monthly total in the past two‑and‑a‑half years. Through July 31, Lewiston had 64 arrests, tied with South Portland for the most in the state, while Auburn recorded 31. ICE reportedly carried out enforcement operations in 20 communities in 2024, a number that has now risen to 50.

The coalition’s analysis also notes that 69 percent of those arrested this year have no prior criminal convictions or charges. “We’re seeing a lot of people who are first‑time offenders or have no criminal history being detained,” Torres explained.

In addition to the human toll, the financial impact is significant. Historically, bail for ICE detentions hovered around $1,000. Today, the agency’s agents typically set bail in the $5,000 to $10,000 range – an amount most community members cannot afford.

“The bail is a real shock,” Torres said. “People don’t have that kind of money on hand.”

The increase in ICE activity coincides with a new funding bill that tripled the agency’s budget, an initiative passed by congressional Republicans and signed by President Trump. A spokesperson for ICE declined to comment on the accuracy of the coalition’s report, stating that the agency was “continuing to go after the worst of the worst” and that many of those arrested had committed crimes. “They just don’t have a rap sheet in the U.S., and further, every single one of these individuals committed a crime when they came into this country illegally,” the spokesperson said.

The local community has responded with a mixture of fear and resilience. Panagioti Tsolkas, spokesperson for the coalition, said, “You can’t unsee members of the community being taken by ICE. Detainments like this scare communities, scare families.” He urged residents to lean on local organizations for support and to avoid feeling isolated or silenced.

For many families, the arrests mean sudden childcare challenges. “It also takes away from childcare and puts families in a risky situation where they have to find out how they’re going to afford childcare during the detention process,” Torres noted.

The coalition emphasizes the importance of preparedness in the face of sudden detentions. “The worst thing you can do is be in the moment, panicked, trying to make a plan. In the heat of the moment, the best thing is a plan so everyone knows what to do,” Torres advised.

Despite the gravity of the situation, some argue that ICE’s focus on those who have committed crimes is justified. “We believe many of those arrested have committed crimes,” an ICE spokesperson said. “Every single one of these individuals committed a crime when they came into this country illegally.”

Whether or not ICE’s actions align with federal law, the arrests in Lewiston and Auburn are having a tangible, disruptive effect on families and the local economy. The community’s response – a mix of advocacy, support networks, and calls for more transparency – underscores the broader national debate over immigration enforcement and its impact on everyday residents.