Republican Senator Susan Collins announced that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will cease its enhanced operations in Maine. Collins indicated that she received confirmation from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding this decision. In her statement, she noted, “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.”
This announcement comes in the wake of ICE’s recent initiative, dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day,” which aimed to apprehend approximately 1,400 individuals believed to be in the state illegally. Since the operation’s initiation last week, DHS has reported making more than 200 arrests.
In light of this development, Collins expressed her appreciation for Noem’s receptiveness to her recommendations regarding immigration enforcement. She emphasized the need for a reconsideration of ICE’s approach in Maine, stating, “There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here.”
Local Reactions to ICE’s Scaling Down
Mayor Carl Sheline of Lewiston, one of the cities targeted by ICE, welcomed the decision to scale down operations. He described the agency’s actions as “disastrous” for local communities, asserting that ICE operations failed to enhance public safety and inflicted lasting damage on the area. Sheline remarked, “We will continue working to ensure that those who were wrongfully detained by ICE are returned to us.”
In a statement responding to the reports of the cessation of “Operation Catch of the Day,” Representative Chellie Pingree, a Democrat from Maine, highlighted concerns regarding the implications of enhanced ICE operations. She stated, “If these enhanced operations have in fact ceased, that may reduce the visible federal presence in our state. But I think it is important that people understand what we saw during this operation: individuals who are legally allowed to be in the United States, whether by lawful presence or an authorized period of stay, following the rules, and being detained anyway.”
Pingree also noted that the pattern of immigration enforcement under the current administration has raised significant concerns, suggesting that the issue extends beyond this specific operation.
Future of ICE Operations in Maine and Beyond
Despite the end of enhanced operations, Collins confirmed that ICE and Customs and Border Protection will maintain their regular activities in Maine, which have been ongoing for many years. She reiterated her commitment to collaborating with Secretary Noem on initiatives aimed at addressing illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and other cross-border criminal activities.
This announcement from Collins follows a broader trend of the federal government reducing operations in certain states, including Minnesota, where recent ICE actions have led to tragic outcomes, including the deaths of two individuals. Tom Homan, the Border Czar, indicated that the number of officers in Minnesota would be drawn down as part of this shift in strategy.
As the situation evolves, the impacts of these decisions on local communities and immigration enforcement policies will remain a focal point of discussion among lawmakers and residents alike.
