Press Herald -   Cumberland County District Attorney Jacqueline Sartoris canceled a news conference scheduled for Friday morning in Portland after the state’s court administrator cautioned against it, she said in a statement.

Sartoris and Portland Mayor Mark Dion had scheduled a joint news conference at the Cumberland County Courthouse for 10 a.m., as city officials attempt to prepare for an expected U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation.

Several city councilors were also planning to attend, according to city officials.

Sartoris said the state court administrator’s office in Maine’s Judicial Branch “expressed concern” about providing security for both a press conference and regular court business.

“I think there is also, understandably, genuine concern about holding a fairly public conversation proximate to the Courts about this issue at this time,” Sartoris said.

She said Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce was also scheduled to join the event, which was “intended simply to be a clear statement of the need for everyone — residents and visitors alike — to follow the rule of law and Maine’s laws in the days ahead.”

Mayor Dion and other state and local leaders issued statements Wednesday about ICE operations potentially targeting Portland or Lewiston as early as next week, responding to rumors about increased enforcement that have been swirling for days. Dion said the Portland community “rejects the need for the deployment of ICE agents into our neighborhoods.”

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“There is no evidence of unchecked criminal activity in our community requiring a disproportionate presence of federal agents,” he said. “While we respect the law, we challenge the need for a paramilitary approach to the enforcement of federal statutes. The consequence of law enforcement should not be chaos and violence, which only results in making Portland less safe.”

Gov. Janet Mills also issued a video statement later Wednesday and said her office had not yet confirmed with federal officials whether any immigration enforcement operations are planned for Maine.

“To the federal government, I say this,” Mills said. “If your plan is to come here, to be provocative and to undermine the civil rights of Maine residents, do not be confused: Those tactics are not welcome here.”