Sen. Susan Collins Says ICE Has Ended Enhanced Activities in Maine

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced on Jan. 29 that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would end aggressive removal operations in her state amid ongoing scrutiny of the agency’s recent actions.

In a social media post, Collins said she had spoken with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who agreed to end those practices, and that there were no ongoing or planned large-scale operations in the state.

Her announcement came after ICE launched “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine on Jan. 20 to apprehend “criminal illegal aliens who have terrorized communities.” ICE has arrested more than 200 suspects since announcing the operation.

“Secretary Noem has informed me that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in the State of Maine,” Collins wrote on social media. “There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here.”

“ICE and Customs and Border Patrol will continue their normal operations that have been ongoing here for many years.”

Collins had announced on Jan. 27 that she asked Noem to “pause the operations in both Maine and Minnesota.” Since December, the Department of Homeland Security has deployed federal law enforcement agencies to several locations to apprehend suspected illegal immigrants and other foreign nationals.

The operations have been criticized by Democrats and others, many of whom have protested against law enforcement officers while they were conducting arrests. In Maine, state Attorney General Aaron Frey’s office set up an email address for citizens to report “civil rights violations and improper use of force” by federal law enforcement agents, which could be used as evidence in a future lawsuit by the state.

Collins’s announcement was noted by Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who criticized ICE.

“The reported end of ICE’s ‘enhanced operation’ in Maine does not end the pain and suffering they have inflicted on communities across our state — people who have been terrorized, mothers who have been separated from their children, businesses who have been threatened, all by their government,” Mills wrote on social media.

ICE defended its actions in the state as lawful immigration enforcement.

“Our officers arrested more than 200 alien offenders in less than a week despite the organized efforts from activist groups, radical politicians and protestors to thwart our activities,” ICE Assistant Director Patricia Hyde wrote in a statement on Jan. 29 about the operations in Maine. “ICE will not be deterred from enforcing U.S. immigration law.”

Criticism of ICE has increased over its various operations across the country, including “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota. Members of Congress have called for Noem’s testimony and greater scrutiny of ICE’s funding after the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—during contentious interactions with law enforcement in Minneapolis.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.