Maine Governor Janet Mills gestures while speaking during a meeting of northeastern U.S. Governors and Canadian Premiers to discuss the impacts of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and how American and Canadian leaders can continue to work together to maintain economic relations that benefit local businesses and residents, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Sophie Park
(Augusta, Maine) – A Maine sheriff has ignited controversy after publicly acknowledging that multiple people working within his department may not have been legally authorized to be in the United States, including at least one corrections recruit who was arrested by federal authorities, according to his own remarks.
In comments that quickly went viral, the sheriff said three individuals were dismissed after their citizenship or immigration documentation did not match or could not be verified, raising serious questions about how they were hired in the first place. He also confirmed that a corrections recruit was taken into custody by federal officials during the Trump administration’s stepped-up immigration enforcement.
The sheriff did not specify how long the individuals had been employed or what duties they held, but the admission has sparked outrage online, particularly among critics who argue that law enforcement positions carry authority over American citizens and require the highest level of vetting.
Federal authorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have not publicly detailed the arrest, but the case is being cited by supporters of tougher immigration enforcement as evidence that screening failures can have real public-safety consequences.
While the sheriff emphasized that the department took action once discrepancies were discovered, critics say the incident highlights a broader breakdown in hiring oversight – and are calling for expanded audits and federal involvement to ensure only legally authorized individuals serve in positions of public authority.
