Portland Restaurant Workers Organize One Day Strike Over ICE Surge in Maine

Thousands of people took over downtown Portland on a bitterly cold afternoon last Friday as part of a day of action against the ICE surge in Maine dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day.” Portland restaurant workers organized a one day strike and more than 200 businesses either closed their doors for the day or contributed money to nonprofits that support immigrant worker rights. The march snaked all the way from Congress Street to Exchange Street in the Old Port.

"Today, the working class of Portland has sent a clear message to those in power: Your power is derived from our labor, and we are not afraid to withhold our labor for the safety of our neighbors," said retail worker Keeli Parker of South Portland at a press conference in Portland that morning.

Over 200 people were arrested by Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents in Maine during its recent surge that ended last week. However, ICE has only officially released the names of 13 people who were arrested and most, if not all, were detained long before the recent enforcement surge, according to an investigation by the Maine Sunday Telegram. Many of the people who have been arrested have legal work permits or green cards and are in the process of applying for asylum or permanent residency.