Overview

Two Bridges Regional Jail (TBRJ) in Wiscasset is a regional facility jointly operated for Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties. In 2025 it was the second-largest ICE detention site in Maine after Cumberland County, averaging 20-25 ICE boarders held under a U.S. Marshals Service federal-boarding arrangement. Like other Maine jails, ICE detainees were pulled from TBRJ during the statewide January 2026 pullback that followed the “Operation Catch of the Day” surge and the Cumberland County dispute.

Key Details

• Operator: Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority (serves Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties); administrator James Bailey.
• Capacity: ~157 inmates housed across member/contract counties (Lincoln/Sagadahoc 53, Penobscot 53, Knox 20, Waldo 24 as of mid-2025); plus federal boarders (~20-25 ICE, ~4 USMS, ~1 Border Patrol).
• Detainer policy: Bailey stated all jail inmates are held on criminal charges and that TBRJ does not accept administrative warrant detainers — ICE must request bed space and provide information for review before acceptance.
• Jan 2026: ICE detainees pulled from TBRJ amid the statewide pullback; status paused pending DHS review / contract posture. Long-term status to confirm.
• Context: Subject of legislative debate (LD 1971, LD 1259) over standards for federal agencies using Maine county jails.

Sources

• PenBay Pilot: TBRJ and ICE detainees — policy, practice and impact
• Boothbay Register: TBRJ and ICE detainees
• Maine Morning Star: Following uproar over jails holding ICE detainees, lawmakers consider tweaking state law (Mar 4, 2026)