While a lot of attention is rightly being focused on the chaos and destruction happening in Minnesota as agitators try to stop lawful immigration enforcement efforts, other Democrat-led states are quietly taking actions that will also put Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in their states in the line of fire. It's truly a race to the bottom.
Take, for instance, Maine.
On Tuesday, Maine's Democrat secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, announced that the state was pausing a program that allowed federal immigration officials to use "undercover" Maine license plates while carrying out their duties, thus allowing their vehicles to operate in communities without an obvious identifier on their plates. Bellows said she made the decision after receiving a request from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) "for confidential, undercover Maine license plates."
Here's Bellows:
“The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles received a request for confidential, undercover Maine license plates from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These requests in light of rumors of ICE deployment to Maine and abuses of power in Minnesota and elsewhere raise concerns,” Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in a statement.
"Given what's happening in Minnesota, given the rumors of an ICE deployment to Maine, we made the decision that we are pausing the issuance of unmarked plates, which present as civilian plates . . . and they are not traceable to anyone," Bellows told members of a legislative committee on Tuesday.
So, for now, Bellows won't be forcing to immigration officials to switch their existing plates to government ones, but new immigration vehicles being brought into the state will have a target on them in the form of government plates. She said on Monday that it's important for Maine residents to be able to tell if a vehicle links back to a recognized law enforcement agency.
This could turn into a Minneapolis-eque nightmare for ICE and CBP agents, who are currently ramping up their immigration efforts in Maine and are likely to be bringing in additional resources for their Operation Catch of the Day.
🚨 @GriffJenkins rides along with I.C.E. as agents carry out Operation “Catch of the Day,” targeting 1,400 wanted criminals across Maine. pic.twitter.com/PiJauZonKQ
— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) January 21, 2026
Republicans, needless to say, are outraged that Democrats are putting a target on the backs of federal law enforcement agents. State Rep. Donald Ardell (R-Monticello) said, “For Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to deny federal agents this common, non-controversial capacity is to restrict them to combat smugglers, traffickers, terrorists, child predators and those committing fraud. So really, to restrict registrations of this type to federal unmarked vehicles is not only petty, it’s disgusting. It serves to allow these vehicles to be identified by people who should not be able to identify them.“
Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) undoubtedly has Bellows' back, as she put out a video last week urging residents to meet the increased ICE presence with “reserve and resolve.” Wink, wink.
Here's more from Mills:
“To the federal government I say this: If your plan is to come here to be provocative and to undermine the civil rights of Maine residents, do not be confused — those tactics are not welcome here,” Mills said in a video statement last week.
“To the people of Maine: I know you care deeply about protecting your neighbors, as do I. And I know that many of you are angry about the potential for any enhanced federal law enforcement presence in Maine. I feel that too,” she added.
On an interesting note, Bellows has taken great pains to protect her own personal identity.
Rules for thee not me...
— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) January 20, 2026
Shenna Bellows testifies in support of a bill that would protect her personal information, while simultaneously unmasking federal agents by refusing them confidential license plates.
She tells several whoppers in this video; we react in full at the… https://t.co/8vctiLt7UD pic.twitter.com/MRKpehz67l
Maine is shaping up to be Minnesota 2.0, so be sure to stick with RedState for all the latest on Democrat efforts to keep violent illegals in the country.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
Help us hold these leftists accountable and expose their obstruction. Join RedState and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member