New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were operating near the border between New Brunswick and Maine, a claim that has faced scrutiny and lacked independent verification.
Premier’s Claims Spark Debate
Holt told national media in Ottawa on Wednesday that ICE agents were present in Calais, Maine, near the St. Croix River border crossing with St. Stephen, New Brunswick. She stated this made her “very, very uncomfortable.”
Within hours, Holt faced questions regarding the source of her information and evidence supporting increased ICE activity.
ICE launched operations in Maine earlier this month, focusing on immigrant communities in Portland and Lewiston, cities located several hours from the New Brunswick border.
Rumors of ICE operations in Calais began circulating prior to Holt’s statement, originating from a TikTok account (@Rekounas) and an X user (@mellyfax) who cited a cousin and TikTok as their source, respectively. Reporters were unable to verify these claims.
Source of Information Questioned
Holt initially attributed her information to the province’s Department of Public Safety, though this was later removed from a report by Brunswick News. A spokesperson for Holt later stated the information also came from “a few emails from Campobello residents.” These emails reportedly referenced a Jan. 25 Brunswick News story that did not mention Calais or any ICE activity near the border, but focused on operations in Portland and Lewiston.
The Calais Advertiser reported observing no unusual activity in the town, and a CBC New Brunswick crew also found no ICE presence while travelling through Calais.
Maine Public Radio’s Ari Snider stated on Friday morning that he had received no credible, verified reports of ICE activity along the Maine border with New Brunswick.
Retraction and Clarification
By Wednesday evening, Holt was backing away from her initial statement. In an interview on Radio-Canada’s Téléjournal Acadie, she clarified that New Brunswickers were concerned about ICE activity “in Maine, in various places,” and Calais was simply the closest border town.
On Thursday, Maine Senator Susan Collins announced ICE would be winding down increased enforcement activity in Maine. Holt stated New Brunswickers “will breathe a sigh of relief to hear that,” despite the lack of evidence of operations near the border.
New Brunswick Attorney-General Sean Fraser stated he had not seen reports of ICE activity at the border. Holt later acknowledged her comments were imprecise, stating she had not clearly distinguished between ICE being in Maine generally and specifically in Calais.
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