US EditionICE ends enhanced enforcement activities in Maine, Sen. Collins says
Over 200 arrests triggered local backlash and calls for more targeted immigration enforcement, leading to ICE ending its expanded operation after a week in Maine.
- On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ended its enhanced activities in Maine, saying Secretary Kristi Noem informed her, `There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here.`
- Federal officials launched 'Operation Catch of the Day' on Jan. 20, targeting about 1,400 in Maine with roughly 50 arrests on the first day and over 200 overall.
- Gov. Janet Mills and Mayors of affected communities criticized secretive arrests and demanded warrants, while Families and immigrant advocacy groups in Maine reported school absences and closed businesses.
- Collins said ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol will continue their normal operations that have been ongoing in Maine for years, and Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline welcomed the news, saying, `If this report is accurate, it is welcome news.`
- Critics have linked the surge to calls to cut DHS funding as intensified scrutiny follows Alex Pretti's killing, with Sen. Susan Collins facing reelection this year amid political pressure.
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ICE has ended increased enforcement efforts in Maine, says Sen. Collins
Protesters rally against the presence of U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement in Maine, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Portland, Maine.Robert F. Bukaty/Associated PressMaine Sen. Susan Collins announced that ICE has halted 'enhanced activities' in the state.Collins wrote on X that she had urged DHS to rethink ICE's enforcement approach.The news comes as some advocates are calling for a general strike on Friday.Maine Sen. Susan Collins said early Thur…
Collins says Noem agreed to cease ICE operation in Maine
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said on Thursday that the Trump administration agreed to end a sweeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation that recently began in Maine. The Department of Homeland Security surged ICE’s presence in the state last week as part of Operation Catch of the Day. The move sparked opposition from Collins, who said further review of the agency’s tactics is needed before conducting missions after two U.S. citizens wer…
Sen. Collins says ICE has ended large-scale operations in Maine after talks with Noem
“There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here,” Sen. Susan Collins said in a statement. “I have been urging Secretary Noem and others in the Administration to get ICE to reconsider its approach to immigration enforcement in the state."
“At present, there are no long-scale operations of the ICE (Immigrance and Alphandanga) in progress or planned here,” Collins said in a communiqué
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