Maine residents protest ICE ‘Operation Catch of the Day’; Minneapolis ICE shooting heightens their fears – The Boston Globe

Bystander video from Minneapolis circulating online shows officers tackling the protester to the ground on the street and then shooting him multiple times.

Alex Pretti, 37, was identified as the person shot by Minnesota elected officials on Saturday evening, and his parents said he worked in a hospital intensive care unit. His death led Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to activate the state’s National Guard.

Soldiers helped police to manage large crowds protesting the city’s second resident killed by federal immigration agents this month.

In Lewiston, about 1,000 people gathered for three hours in the Agora center, with hundreds more outside, to protest the fear they said ICE has instilled in their community. In Maine and across the US, immigrants stay home out of fear of being arrested, children skip school and essential workers risk losing their jobs, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows told the crowd.

“A man was brought to the ground by multiple ICE agents. As he was laying there, he was shot dead,” Bellows said , as many booed and shouted as they heard the news.

Maine residents opposing ICE have criticized the agency’s choice to name its operation “Catch of the Day.” Immigrant and human rights advocates have said the phrase, a play on a phrase common to the state’s fishing industry, dehumanizes people who’ve become targets of ICE arrests.

“We need ICE out of Minnesota, we need ICE out of Maine, we need them out now,” she said, as the crowd erupted in cheers and raised fists in the air.

More than 100 people were arrested by ICE in Maine this week, out of the state’s total immigrant population of about 50,000.

Lewiston protesters were not deterred by this weekend’s blast of cold. At the Agora center, volunteers shared info on how they could help grocery shop for immigrants who don’t feel safe leaving their homes.

Alicia MacLeay, 50, had driven about an hour to come to the protest from her town of Rome, a small town in Kennebec County.

“I am extremely angry, and sad, and heartbroken for our country and our Maine residents,” she said.

She is concerned about what is next for Maine, especially after seeing what happened in Minnesota. Both states are being targeted by the the White House.

“I don’t think there’s any rational reason to come to Maine – or Minneapolis – in the first place,” MacLeay said. “To to come here seems like a vindictive move.”

At the rally, several people who took the stage were Somali-American, and spoke about how they’ve feared for their safety in recent days.

Amran Osman, executive director of Generational Noor, a nonprofit that works with immigrant groups, grew up in the city.

Recently, she said, , she was told: “Go back to your country.”

But this is her community, she said.

“Lewiston, Auburn – they’re not just cities to me,” she said. “They’re the only home that I’ve ever known.”

She said she found herself scrambling for hours looking for her US passport in recent days, making sure to take it with her before stepping out her door.

“I should not have to be afraid to leave my house,” Osman said. “I have my papers – and I am in fear.”

She said that the programs her group runs for children have no attendees because of daily ICE arrests.

“Our office has always been filled with laughter, with kids doing their homework, kids just being kids,” she said. “But right now, our office is empty.”

Claire Thornton can be reached at claire.thornton@globe.com. Follow Claire on X @claire_thornto. Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio can be reached at giulia.mcdnr@globe.com. Follow her @giuliamcdnr.