SOUTH PORTLAND — A South Portland couple has joined a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that while lawfully filming Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, the agents threatened them and said the plaintiffs would be put on a “domestic terrorism watchlist.”

Carlyn Williams and their spouse, Polyxenia Pantos, joined Portland residents Elinor Hilton and Colleen Fagan in the lawsuit. 

Hilton and Fagan claimed that in separate instances, each filmed federal agents conducting activities in January during “Operation Catch of the Day,” when ICE activity increased in Maine. Hilton and Fagan allege that the agents scanned their faces and license plates, then told the two that they would be added to a “domestic terrorism watchlist.”

Williams and Pantos allege in the lawsuit that during that operation, Pantos was driving Williams’ car to work. Pantos pulled over to film ICE agents conducting activities. Williams claims in the lawsuit that later that afternoon, she received a call from an unknown number.  

Allegedly, the person on the other line claimed to be with DHS, and told Williams that “You should encourage [Pantos] not to do anything like that in the future because people who are doing things like that might get added to a domestic terrorism watchlist.”

The four plaintiffs are claiming these threats violate their first amendment rights to observe and film law enforcement. They’re being represented by Protect Democracy, a nonprofit anti-authoritarianism group that includes a litigation team.

In a statement to Spectrum News, DHS wrote: ““There is NO database of ‘domestic terrorists’ run by DHS. We do of course monitor and investigate and refer all threats, assaults, and obstruction of our officers to the appropriate law enforcement. Obstructing and assaulting law enforcement is a felony and a federal crime. Our law enforcement methods follow the U.S. constitution.”