District of Maine U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson is warning Maine protesters not to interfere with ICE agents.
Benson issued a statement Monday, saying anyone who assaults, impedes or obstructs federal law enforcement activity, or destroys government property, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Benson’s statement specifically mentions the enforcement of laws relating to illegal immigration.
It comes ahead of the rumored deployment of ICE agents to Portland and Lewiston this week.
Benson did acknowledge the right of people to organize and protest. “The Constitution guarantees the right to peacefully assemble and to protest,” said Benson in his statement. “These are fundamental rights that form the basis for a free society.”
The recent shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent has escalated unease around ICE actions. There have been mass anti-ICE protests around the country since the incident happened.
Videos have also been circulating online of masked federal agents violently detaining people, including American citizens and at times peaceful protesters.
