South Portland residents say they’re seeing credible reports of increased immigration enforcement in the city in recent weeks.

Reports and videos of detentions are circulating, largely on social media and through word of mouth, and the uncertainty is fueling anxiety. 

“This increase impacts our community in tangible ways, including affecting many community members’ sense of safety and belonging, worsening anxieties, and decreasing student attendance or ability to engage in learning,” South Portland Superintendent George Entwistle said on Thursday in a message to families and staff in the district. 

After this story was published, Entwistle clarified that the district has not noticed substantive changes in attendance data. He said he meant to write that “these increases can impact our community.”

“As always, our goal is to provide safe, welcoming learning environments for all of our students,” Entwistle wrote in the message to the district. “As the situation evolves, we will continue to ensure that families and staff have the information and support they need, including through partnership with our amazing local organizations and volunteers.” 

The city has not received word from federal immigration officials about their plans in South Portland and neighboring areas, according to Mayor Elyse Tipton. Police Chief Daniel Ahern said at a City Council meeting Tuesday that he hasn’t received communication from immigration enforcement.

“For operational security purposes, ICE does not disclose ongoing or future operations, or law enforcement plans, tactics or strategies utilized during such operations,” an ICE spokesperson said. The spokesperson did not say how many people might have been apprehended in the state in recent weeks.

Mufalo Chitam, the executive director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, said that the increase began about a month ago. She said that reports of arrests have been somewhat sporadic: Some days, there are none. Other days, two or three. Detentions have been more consistent than they had been since the end of the enforcement surge in January, she said. 

“ICE is still conducting operations in our state, albeit at lower rates than what we saw at the height of ‘Operation Catch of the Day,’” said a spokesperson for Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District. The office said that it will continue to monitor immigration activity in the district and provide assistance to constituents. 

Tipton said that she’s received many texts and emails from concerned residents who are active in immigration support networks.

“They understand that it’s ramping up again,” she said.

Immigrant advocates warned last week that federal immigration enforcement actions appeared to be on the rise in Maine.

School Board Chair Rosemarie De Angelis has been helping several immigrant families since the surge in ICE activity in January, during which about 200 people in Maine were arrested in a few days. She delivers food to some families, and has been driving one immigrant friend to work every morning at 6 a.m.

Her friend called out of work today because he was afraid. 

“If this is happening again, more people are going to freak out,” De Angelis said. She’s seen videos online of detentions in Portland, South Portland, Lewiston and Scarborough. 

“It seems different this time,” De Angelis said. “It’s targeted. We don’t know who they’re targeting and how they’re deciding that.” 

Editor’s note: This story was updated on May 27 to clarify Superintendent George Entwistle’s statement about student attendance.