Fear of Immigration Raids Rattles a Beach Town in Maine

Life by the Ocean — Now with Protests and Anxiety

In Wells, a charming coastal town in Maine, early mornings usually follow a quiet ritual:

• Dog walkers fill the beach at dawn,

• Congdon’s Doughnuts sees its loyal crowd by 7 a.m.,

• But this year, a new ritual has emerged: weekly protests outside the local police station.

Why? Because Wells has become the only town in Maine where local police signed an agreement to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Local Partnership with ICE Sparks Community Division

Every Friday morning, residents line Route 1 with signs reading:
“No ICE in Our Community” and “Fight Ignorance, Not Immigrants.”

Some drivers honk in support. Others respond with hostility.
Local resident Jim Loring admits: “I don’t know the details, but police should cooperate with ICE.”

But for many, ICE collaboration raises concerns:
– Will tourists stay away?
– Will foreign workers feel safe returning?

Businesses Depend on Migrant Workers

Like countless tourist destinations in the U.S., Wells relies on seasonal labor — much of it foreign.

• Congdon’s Doughnuts employs 8 H-2B visa workers among a staff of 100.

• Over 7,000 temporary visa holders work across Maine (H-2B & J-1).

• An estimated 5,800 undocumented workers fill critical jobs in farming, home care, and hospitality.

“We’d hire more if we had housing,” says Congdon’s president, Jillian Shomphe.

 Hotel owner Paul Patel adds:

“The entire coast — from Kittery to Bar Harbor — can’t function without international help.”

ICE Crackdowns Threaten Seasonal Tourism

Wells’ story isn’t unique.
After 40 workers were arrested on Martha’s Vineyard, businesses closed temporarily due to labor shortages.

Now, towns across Maine fear similar outcomes — especially during the peak summer season.
The conflict between federal immigration enforcement and local economic reality has never been sharper.