WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) announced Thursday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ceased its “enhanced activities” in Maine, saying the update came directly from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after “several direct communications” between the two.
“While the Department of Homeland Security does not confirm law enforcement operations, I can report that Secretary Noem has informed me that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in the State of Maine,” Collins said. She added that there are “currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations” in Maine, while ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue their normal, long-running enforcement activity in the state.
Collins’ announcement follows a week of intensifying political pressure in Maine over the Trump administration’s immigration surge, branded by DHS as “Operation Catch of the Day,” which federal officials said was aimed at targeting criminal illegal aliens.
Gov. Janet Mills and multiple municipal leaders have been publicly calling for the federal government to halt the stepped-up enforcement push, arguing it was rattling communities and disrupting local life. Mills convened a meeting in Portland on Wednesday with mayors from several cities, where local officials described what they said was a chilling effect on businesses and daily routines amid the crackdown.
In the days leading up to her statement that enhanced activity has ended, Collins had separately urged Noem to pause the expanded operations for review, as scrutiny grew over the scope and tactics of the surge.
Here is the full press release from the Collins office:
