Published : 24 Sep 2026, 07:03 PM
Updated : 24 Sep 2026, 07:03 PM
Former Maine Governor Paul LePage has urged federal authorities not to deport his son's father-in-law, saying the man has a valid work permit and lives legally in the US, according to The Independent.
LePage, who is running for a seat in the US House of Representatives, has made border policy a central part of his campaign.
He objected to the deportation case involving his relative, telling The Independent that the man "has a work permit" and "should be allowed to stay".
LePage said his relative was facing removal because he came from a country that was "not liking to certain people in Washington", the report said.
The case comes amid increased federal immigration enforcement in Maine. The Trump administration sent additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to the state in January.
The Independent added that the campaign drew further attention in July after an ICE agent shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian national, during an operation in Biddeford.
Federal officials said Guerrero tried to flee in his car, while critics said he had a valid work permit and was not the intended target.
The Independent, citing New York Times tracking, reported that at least 23 people had been shot at by federal immigration agents since the mass deportation campaign began. Six of those encounters resulted in deaths, including three US citizens.
Law enforcement experts have raised concerns about the use of force in vehicle encounters. Seven of 13 people charged after such shootings have had their cases dismissed in court, The Independent said.
LePage has throughout his political career supported strict law enforcement and cooperation between Maine authorities and federal immigration agencies.
