A surge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Maine reached its first weekend Saturday after four days of arrests, protests, political polarization and, in many communities, fear.

Hundreds of protesters amassed Friday night and six were arrested in Portland, where many of the ICE arrests so far have taken place. Another anti-ICE demonstration was planned Saturday afternoon in Lewiston, home to much of Maine’s immigrant population and the other primary focus of federal agents’ detention efforts this week.

Meanwhile, an ICE official reprimanded the Cumberland County sheriff for his recent criticism of the agency’s tactics, saying he “chose to turn on his law enforcement brethren and smear the brave men and women of ICE.” Earlier Friday, Sheriff Kevin Joyce confirmed that ICE removed dozens of federal detainees from the Cumberland County Jail in apparent retaliation for his remarks.

Read our updates from Friday here.

Here’s what else you need to know:

• ICE watchers in Maine say they were threatened by federal agents
• ICE detainees removed from Cumberland County Jail after sheriff’s criticism
• The Mainers detained by ICE
• ICE arrests 6 Biddeford, South Portland restaurant workers
• York County corrections officer arrested by ICE outside immigration appointment
• Masked agents detain civil engineer in Portland, leave his car running in the street with a smashed window
• Wife of detainee questions morality of ICE enforcement in Maine
• Lawyers, legal advocates march through downtown Portland to protest ICE arrests

Our journalists are working to verify sightings and report events as they happen. Have a tip? Fill out this form, reach us on Signal at PressHeraldTips.295 or email [email protected]. Tips are confidential.

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1:50 p.m. Maine’s U.S. congressional delegation begins to react to latest Minneapolis ICE-related shooting

Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, discussed the latest shooting on her way to speak at the Lewiston rally on Saturday.

“My heart goes out to the family of the individual shot by ICE,” Pingree said on a message she posted to Facebook. “We have a good idea that this will be yet another unjustified killing.”

She said she was pleased the Minneapolis police would be investigating the incident so it would not be dismissed by ICE.

Pingree is likely to talk about the incident when addressing the crowd in Lewiston. “I’m so proud of Mainers for standing up and fighting for the rule of law,” Pingree said. “ICE needs to get out of our state.”

— Penny Overton

1:45 p.m.: Anti-ICE rally in Lewiston draws 1,000 protesters to Kennedy Park

LEWISTON — About 1,000 people overflowed the Angora Grand Event Center to protest the surge in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Lewiston and Maine this week.

Speaking at the protest were several local and state officials and candidates for office, including Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline; advocate and former Lewiston City Councilor Safiya Khalid; Portland Mayor Mark Dion; U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner; U.S. House District 2 candidates Matt Dunlap and Jordan Wood and gubernatorial candidates Hannah Pingree, Troy Jackson and Shenna Bellows.

Several religious leaders from Lewiston and beyond also spoke at the demonstration. Asked why she was at the rally, Lewiston resident Debbie Hillman said, “Things are terribly wrong and we need to get together.

“It’s not just one item that Trump has decided to pick, it’s this whole big umbrella of things and it’s frustrating and heartbreaking. This is emotional for me and I had to do something.”

– Joe Charpentier

11:15 a.m.: U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner ‘heartened’ by community opposition to ICE

U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner said he’s “heartened” to see the robust community opposition to a surge of federal immigration enforcement in Maine.

Earlier in the week, Platner urged residents to “actually fight back” against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers through community organizing. He has accused ICE of terrorizing the community, rather than conducting a legitimate law enforcement operation.

On Friday night, hundreds of protesters marched along Congress Street and dozens of others beat on drums and blew whistles for the second straight night at hotels where ICE agents are believed to be staying.

“The rallies and the protests outside the hotels, of course, I support them immensely,” Platner said in an interview with the Press Herald on Saturday morning.

Platner said he’s proud of the rapid response teams that have formed organically in communities like Portland, Westbrook, Biddeford and Saco to record and document arrests being made by ICE agents and help people too fearful to leave their homes.

“The reason we’re seeing videos of these illegal arrests is because there are people on hand available to videotape them and then report what they’re witnessing,” Platner said. “People are doing this in their communities and then connecting with the greater networks. And I think that that’s something that we should all be proud of.”

Platner is seeking the Democratic nomination against two-term Gov. Janet Mills. The winner will take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the fall.

Platner is slated to speak at a rally in Lewiston this afternoon.

– Randy Billings

10:55 a.m.: More than 200 Maine faith leaders denounce ICE tactics

An open letter circulated by the Maine Council of Churches Friday condemned the tactics of ICE agents in the state. More than 200 faith leaders signed the letter, which called on ICE to end its targeting of immigrants and asylum seekers.

“Our sacred texts teach us to love the stranger and urge us toward empathy and welcome, not toward violence and bigotry,” the letter said. “Yet across our state, parents are afraid to pick up their children from school, workers are afraid to go to their jobs, and parishioners are afraid to walk home alone from worship services due to the discriminatory and unjust actions being perpetrated by ICE agents.

“This sort of terror is not welcome here. We denounce the current operation and call for its end.”

The letter encourages Mainers to report ICE activity to the statewide hotline, document incidents involving ICE agents and help the immigrant community access needed services.

– Staff report

10 a.m.: Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce offers advice to businesses dealing with “troubling” ICE disruption

The Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce said it has been closely following recent federal immigration enforcement activity and has heard concerns from members about how this activity is affecting their businesses.

“The manner and scope of recent immigration enforcement actions are disrupting workplaces, undermining economic stability, and adversely affecting the well-being of residents,”  the organization said. “This includes members of our much-valued immigrant community, who play a significant role in the success and vitality of Greater Portland’s economy.”

Businesses rely on employees who are here legally to be able to work without unnecessary uncertainty or stress, it said.

Here is what it told its business members in an email sent out Friday night:

Businesses should designate one person to interact with ICE officers. Employee eligibility forms should be complete and securely stored. Mark non-public workplace spaces. Train front-line staff to refer agents to managers. Keep legal counsel information readily available.

Employees should carry valid immigration documents, know they have the right to stay silent and ask for a lawyer, and not to volunteer information or sign documents they do not understand.

If agents show up, stay calm and act professionally. Do not resist or obstruct officers. Limit agents’ access to public areas unless they have a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Consult a lawyer before providing documents or answering questions. Employers have three business days to respond to a notice of inspection for employee eligibility forms and related records.

“We will continue to support our members and serve as a voice for the Greater Portland business community,” the agency told its members. “In the meantime, we encourage open and constructive dialogue among federal, state, and local leaders.”

— Penny Overton

8:40 a.m.: Portland Police release the names of six arrested at Friday night’s anti-ICE protest in front of two hotels

Police made the disorderly conduct arrests of six protesters for blowing whistles, banging on drums and causing a disturbance in front of Residence Inn and the AC Hotel on Fore Street just before 11 p.m. They were part of a crowd of 40 people that the police say was making noise disruptive to hotel guests and refused to stop when ordered by police.

According to police, those arrested include: John Clark, 30, of Windham; Amelia Fleming, 26, of Nobleboro; Andrew Mantenieks, 25, of East Orland; Meghan Morrison, 28, of Portland; Samuel Pecor, 30, of Biddeford; and Savanah Roberge, 19, of Somersworth, N.H. They were taken to Cumberland County Jail.

Read the full story here.

— Penny Overton