Maine pauses undercover license plates for federal agencies over transparency and trust concerns.

Maine has paused issuing undercover license plates to federal agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, amid concerns over increased immigration enforcement in Lewiston and public trust in law enforcement. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows cited the need for transparency, noting unmarked vehicles with police lights could be mistaken for legitimate authorities or misused. The state will withhold new confidential plates until it can ensure they aren’t used unlawfully, reflecting broader worries about accountability and civil liberties, though Bellows did not confirm a direct link to ICE activities.