On May 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the state of Maine challenging the state’s policy denying confidential license plates to federal agents. According to the complaint, the state of Maine only reviewed the confidential plate program for federal agencies, but not state or local agencies. Following that review, the complaint claims Maine’s federal confidential plate program changed and required the head of the agency to attest that Federal Government vehicles with Maine confidential plates would not be used for federal civil immigration enforcement. When Maine announced a pause on confidential license plates in January after federal authorities increased immigration enforcement activities in the state, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who oversees the state’s plate program said that the state wanted to be “assured that Maine plates will not be used for lawless purposes.” Bellows further stated, “When ICE asked for confidential license plates, I said no” because “covert civil immigration enforcement is not something Maine will facilitate.” The DOJ is requesting that the court declare Maine’s confidential plate policy unconstitutional and invalid.