In Scarborough, Maine, a coalition of anti-ICE activists—many of them retirees—has intensified efforts to disrupt the operations of the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Their activities, ranging from organized protests to doxxing and roadblocks, have drawn attention from local officials and stirred tensions within the community.
Organized Resistance Meets Bureaucratic Complexity
On September 14, dozens of activists gathered at Scarborough Town Hall, clad in red-and-white “STOP ICE” shirts, to strategize their next moves. The meeting, led by the Indivisible Team of Southern Maine (ITSME), a local branch of the national Indivisible nonprofit, was marked by calls for radical action and the formation of multiple working groups. However, the proliferation of committees created a complex and somewhat unwieldy organizational structure.
Town Councilor Jonathan Anderson (D) and state Representative Sophia Warren (D) addressed the crowd, with Anderson exploring legal avenues to expel ICE from town and Warren commending the activists’ daily protests. Both politicians later campaigned for U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson, despite some attendees expressing skepticism toward electoral politics.
Warren posed a pointed question to the group: “Are we prioritizing our immigrant neighbors and people of color?” which was met with approving murmurs, underscoring the movement’s focus on social justice.
Doxxing and Direct Action: Tactics on the Front Lines
One of the most controversial figures at the meeting was a masked organizer named Rich Nowak, who urged volunteers to collect detailed information on ICE agents, including photographs and license plate numbers. Nowak, who concealed his identity citing past harassment, emphasized the importance of gathering intelligence on individuals working at the facility.
During the discussion, an attendee proposed physically blocking ICE vehicles to conduct forced searches. While the organizers neither explicitly endorsed nor condemned the idea, the suggestion highlighted the group’s willingness to consider confrontational tactics.
Nowak also disclosed the landlord’s full contact information for the ICE facility, encouraging activists to apply pressure through property ownership channels. Days after the meeting, activists reportedly laid spike strips near the ICE building’s entrance and defaced the parking lot with blood-red paint, actions that heightened safety concerns for both agents and detainees.
Local Officials and Legal Challenges
Despite the activists’ efforts, the federal government holds a 15-year lease on the Scarborough ICE facility, limiting the town’s ability to remove the agency. Anderson acknowledged that the municipality lacks a clear legal mechanism to evict federal tenants, leaving activists to rely on making the presence of ICE “enough of a pain in the neck” to encourage relocation.
Some activists have called for spot zoning ordinances to selectively target the ICE property, though such measures may face legal challenges. Meanwhile, Maine Democrat Attorney General Aaron Frey is reviewing a recent fatal shooting involving an ICE agent in nearby Biddeford under the state’s deadly force statutes.
On the Ground: Protest Dynamics and Escalating Tensions
Outside the ICE facility, daily protests continue, with activists photographing agents and contractors and vocally opposing deportations—even in cases involving serious crimes. The crowd includes a mix of older and younger participants, the former often characterized by a bureaucratic approach, the latter by more uncompromising stances.
In a notable encounter, an ICE agent wearing a hat emblazoned with anti-fascist slogans engaged with protesters and media, illustrating the charged atmosphere on both sides. The agent later returned lawn chairs previously loaned to protesters, signaling a breakdown in informal arrangements.
Meanwhile, journalists covering the protests have faced hostility. Jon Fetherston of the Maine Wire, who collaborated on reporting this story, experienced vandalism including a slashed tire and physical assault, underscoring the volatile environment surrounding the anti-ICE movement.
Conclusion: A Movement Fueled by Experience and Frustration
The anti-ICE activism in Scarborough is driven largely by retirees, self-described “children of the ’60s,” who combine decades of political engagement with radical tactics. Their campaign blends bureaucratic organizing with direct action, sometimes crossing into illegal territory, reflecting deep frustration with immigration enforcement policies.
As the movement persists, it challenges not only federal immigration enforcement but also local governance and community stability. The ongoing confrontations raise questions about the future of such activism in small New England towns and the balance between protest and public order.
Source: Read the original reporting.
