(filed May 27, 2026)
U.S. v. State of Maine, et al. - The Trump Administration sued the state of Maine for its Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) confidential/undercover license plates policy. It alleges that in January 2026 the BMV announced a new policy that paused the issuance of confidential license plates and registrations to federal law enforcement agencies while it reviewed its policies. In February 2026, the Maine Secretary of State’s Office sent a letter to federal agencies announcing that it reviewed its policies and clarified that a new application form was needed to comply with Maine’s law. The new form requires an attestation by the heads of agencies that the plates will only be used on unmarked vehicles primarily for law enforcement purposes, plates will not be loaned to another law enforcement agency, plates will not be used for federal civil immigration enforcement, and the plates must be renewed annually, among other things. In May 2026, the form was amended and clarified that the plates cannot be used for federal civil immigration enforcement purposes, except where the use is incidental to or in support of the agency’s authorized criminal investigation function. The government challenges the policy primarily because it discriminates against the federal government. The federal case is ongoing.