ICE Agents in Maine Fire Projectiles at Onlookers

Confrontation in Home Depot parking lot marks escalation in tensions between federal agents and public

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:39pm

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In a confrontation in a South Portland Home Depot parking lot, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents fired paintball-like projectiles at the cars of at least two people observing them. The agents also approached the onlookers' vehicles with handguns drawn, warning them they were impeding federal law enforcement and could be arrested. The incident is the first documented use of crowd control weapons by ICE agents during the recent immigration surge in Maine.

Why it matters

This confrontation highlights the growing tensions between ICE agents conducting enforcement actions and members of the public who are exercising their right to observe and document the agents' activities. The use of force against onlookers raises concerns about civil liberties and the appropriate boundaries for federal law enforcement when interacting with the public.

The details

According to witnesses, the incident occurred on Friday afternoon when a group of about six ICE agents had gathered in the Home Depot parking lot. When several onlookers, including Sabine Peirce of Portland and Joshua Reynolds of New Hampshire, did not immediately leave the area, an agent fired projectiles that left sticky, orange marks on their vehicles. The agents also approached the onlookers' cars with handguns drawn, warning them they were impeding federal law enforcement and could be arrested.

  • The confrontation occurred on Friday, January 27, 2026 around 4 p.m.

The players

Sabine Peirce

A Portland resident who witnessed the confrontation after seeing ICE agents arrest a man near the Maine Mall earlier that day.

Joshua Reynolds

A New Hampshire resident who was also present and observed the agents firing projectiles at the onlookers' vehicles.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency conducting immigration enforcement actions in Maine that has faced growing public scrutiny and confrontation.

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What they’re saying

“I was not threatening them. I was yelling obscenities, but I was 50 feet away in my car with the window open and they came after me with guns and threatened to arrest me.”

— Sabine Peirce

“The goal has been to be peaceful and to document and show them … that the world is watching. There are eyes on them.”

— Sabine Peirce

What’s next

The incident has been reported to a tip line operated by the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, and video of the confrontation has been posted online. It is unclear if there will be any further investigation or consequences for the agents' actions.

The takeaway

This confrontation underscores the growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and members of the public who are increasingly documenting and challenging the actions of ICE agents. The use of force against onlookers raises concerns about civil liberties and the appropriate boundaries for law enforcement when interacting with the public.