While Massachusetts political leaders have been bracing for a possible surge in ICE enforcement here, the agency’s actions this week in Maine offer a glimpse into what the Bay State’s response could be, and its messaging.

The Department of Homeland Security said that 50 people have been arrested so far in Maine by immigration officers.

The surge, called “Operation Catch of the Day,” began on Tuesday, DHS officials told NewsNation, The Hill’s sister network. DHS said the alleged illegal immigrants arrested so far include people convicted of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Here is the problem with the “ICE Out” stance. Those who slam the agency omit the crimes with which illegal immigrants caught up in such sweeps are charged.

Instead, all illegal immigrants are part of the “community” and need protection. Especially from the liberals’ nemesis, Donald Trump.

“To the people of Maine: I know you care deeply about protecting your neighbors, as do I,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) said in an on-camera statement last week ahead of the ICE actions. “And I know that many of you are angry about the potential for any enhanced federal law enforcement presence in Maine. I feel that too.”

“But if they come here, I want any federal agents — and the president of the United States — to know what this state stands for. We stand for the rule of law. We oppose violence. We stand for peaceful protest,” Mills continued. “We stand for compassion, for integrity and justice.”

There’s lots to unpack here. Why would Mainers want to protect people convicted of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child?

As the Herald reported, immigration agents in Boston arrested a former professional baseball player last week wanted for alleged fentanyl trafficking, who is also an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic.

ICE Boston arrested Juan Miguel Castillo, whose violent criminal history includes multiple counts of assault and battery and numerous narcotics trafficking charges. Castillo was also part of “the community,” just the part progressives don’t talk about.

“We stand for the rule of law.” That was another flag in Mills’ statement. Apparently, Maine does stand for the law, just not laws it doesn’t like.

The Immigration and Nationality Act, enacted in 1952, forms the basic structure of immigration law — who can enter the U.S., stay here, become a citizen and so forth. How one can “stand for the rule of law” and also openly flout the enforcement of it is a wonder of political gymnastics.

As we’ve learned, Massachusetts has hosted illegal immigrants later charged with drug trafficking, assault, and sex offenses among other crimes. It is doubtful that “the community” misses being victimized by them.

We want immigrants in America, and for them to attain citizenship. We support legislation such as the bipartisan Dignity Act, which would create a long-term legal status allowing most undocumented immigrants without a criminal record to remain in the U.S.

But illegal immigrants who commit crimes? They have no place here.

Editorial cartoon by Joe Heller (Joe Heller)