Sen. Susan Collins Announces End to ICE Enhanced Operations in Maine
Collins said ICE halted "enhanced operations" in Maine after talks with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, following more than 200 arrests.
Overview
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said Thursday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ceased "enhanced operations" in Maine after her talks with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The announcement follows an enforcement surge dubbed "Catch of the Day" that began more than a week earlier and resulted in more than 200 arrests, with federal officials saying roughly 1,400 people were operational targets.
Local leaders and federal officials offered conflicting accounts, with Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline calling the operations "disastrous" and Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin saying some arrestees were "convicted of horrific crimes," according to their statements.
Federal officials said about 50 arrests were made on the first day, while court records show the detained population included convicted felons, people with unresolved immigration proceedings and individuals never convicted of a crime.
Sen. Susan Collins, who is up for reelection this year, said ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue their normal operations in Maine, her office said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story as a procedural pullback amid political and public scrutiny, emphasizing federal-local conflict. They foreground Collins' statement and DHS's charged terminology ("the worst of the worst," "sanctuary"), while linking the operation to high-profile federal-agent violence—creating a narrative of de-escalation driven by controversy rather than operational details.
Sources (8)
FAQ
The enhanced operations, dubbed 'Catch of the Day,' were a surge in ICE enforcement that began over a week ago, resulting in more than 200 arrests out of roughly 1,400 operational targets.
Collins spoke with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, urging a pause on the operations in Maine and Minnesota due to their sweeping and indiscriminate nature, and Noem informed her that ICE had ended the enhanced activities.
Local leaders like Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline called the operations 'disastrous,' while federal officials such as Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated some arrestees were convicted of horrific crimes; court records showed a mix including felons, those with unresolved immigration cases, and individuals never convicted.
ICE has ended enhanced operations and large-scale activities, but will continue normal operations alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Collins requested a pause in both Maine and Minnesota surges; the Minnesota operations faced backlash after ICE agents shot and killed protester Alex Pretti, leading to reduced force there if local officials cooperate on targeting criminals in jails.
History
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