Senator Collins Announces Halt to ICE Operations in Maine Amid Controversy

Tue Feb 03 2026 15:29:57 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Senator Susan Collins stated that U.S. immigration officials have ceased enhanced operations in Maine after a surge of arrests, stirring debates regarding immigration enforcement and community trust.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has halted its enhanced operations in the state following an enforcement surge that resulted in over 100 arrests. Collins communicated with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, urging a reevaluation of ICE’s enforcement approach. This development comes amid rising tensions within immigrant communities and calls for greater transparency regarding arrests. Democratic Governor Janet Mills has challenged the actions of immigration officials, demanding accountability and better communication about detentions in Maine.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine announced Thursday that U.S. immigration officials have ended their enhanced operations in the state after a significant surge in enforcement that led to more than 100 arrests since last week.

Collins, a Republican, made the statement after several direct communications with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. She stated, There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here. Collins has been advocating for a reconsideration of ICE’s approach to immigration enforcement in Maine.

The announcement follows remarks made by President Donald Trump, who appeared to signal a willingness to reduce tensions in Minneapolis after a second deadly incident involving federal immigration agents.

Collins pointed out that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol officials would continue with their regular operations, which have been in place for many years in the state.

This announcement comes a week after immigration officers began an operation informally dubbed Catch of the Day, which resulted in around 50 arrests on its first day. Federal officials indicated that approximately 1,400 individuals were potential enforcement targets across Maine, a predominantly rural state with a foreign-born population of about 4%.

By the end of last week, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reported that some of the arrests included individuals convicted of serious crimes such as aggravated assault and child endangerment. Collins faces reelection later this year, potentially against Democratic Governor Janet Mills, who has been vocal about the need for accountability from immigration officials.

Mills has called for judicial warrants, real-time arrest numbers, and detailed information regarding the individuals detained in the state. She has also criticized Collins for not doing enough to advocate for limitations on ICE funding after Democrats’ attempts were defeated by a GOP majority.

Collins has generally refrained from criticizing ICE's methods, stating that those legally in the country should not be targeted. She emphasizes the importance of policies like body cameras and de-escalation training for ICE personnel to foster accountability and trust.