By Trendsetter Tribune 
Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce has revoked his support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations following the detention of one of his correctional officer recruits in Portland, Maine.
Speaking at a Wednesday evening press conference, Sheriff Joyce sharply criticized how ICE agents handled the incident, calling their actions unprofessional and unnecessary. According to Joyce, ICE officers detained the recruit and then left the scene abruptly, abandoning the individual’s vehicle unsecured on the side of the road.
“They all took off, leaving his car with the windows down, the lights on, unsecured and unoccupied,” Joyce said. “They left it right on the side of the street. Folks, that’s bush league policing.”
Joyce described the detention as excessive, noting that multiple agents were involved despite the recruit having no criminal background.
“This was a show of force, a show of whatever they were trying to do with seven people,” he added.
The sheriff said he had previously supported President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies and ICE’s role in carrying them out. However, he said the way this situation was handled caused him to reconsider that support.
“We’re being told one story, which is totally different than what’s occurring or what occurred last night,” Joyce said, stressing that the recruit is “squeaky clean” and does not have a criminal record.
Joyce also raised concerns about how individuals are classified during enforcement actions.
“I guess if you’re not the card-carrying U.S. citizen, then you must be illegal,” he said. “That’s what they told me — that he’s illegal — and he’s definitely not a criminal.”
The sheriff did not announce any formal policy changes but made clear that his trust in ICE operations has been shaken. The incident has added to broader national debates over immigration enforcement tactics and coordination between federal agencies and local law enforcement.
As of now, ICE has not publicly responded to Joyce’s remarks.