PORTLAND, Maine (WGME) — Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) insists that ICE end its stepped-up operations in Maine.

Collins said the announcement was made after several communications with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“While the Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed any law enforcement activity, I can report that Secretary Noem has informed me that ICE has ended its enhanced operations in Maine,” said Sen. Collins. “Currently, there are no large-scale ICE operations underway or planned here. I have been urging Director Noem and other administration officials to force ICE to reconsider its approach to immigration enforcement in this state. , thank you for your personal interest in the situation in Maine. ICE and Customs and Border Protection will continue the business as usual here. We will continue to work with the Secretary on efforts to eradicate illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and other cross-border criminal activity. ”

Protesters rally against the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Maine, Friday, January 23, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bucati)

The Department of Homeland Security said it is working to arrest 1,400 people for being in the state of Maine illegally. DHS has named this effort “Operation Catch of the Day.”

DHS claims it has made more than 200 arrests since ramping up operations in Maine last week.

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement in response to reports that DHS had concluded Operation Catch of the Day in Maine, which read in part:

“I cannot independently confirm this announcement because the Department of Homeland Security has not provided basic information about this operation to my office despite repeated requests over several weeks.

If these enhanced operations actually cease, the visible federal presence in our state could decrease. But I think it’s important that people understand what we’ve seen during this operation, which is people who are legally allowed to be in the United States by lawful presence or authorized period of stay, and who follow the rules and are being detained anyway.

It’s not limited to this one operation. This has been the current administration’s pattern of immigration enforcement over the past year, and there is no evidence that policy has changed.

The unfortunate reality is that ending this surge and removing additional officers does not mean a return to the way immigration enforcement has worked in Maine for “years.” What we have seen over the past year is fundamentally different. The current standard appears to be widespread and aggressive detention and forcible removal, which does not distinguish between people who are in the country illegally and those who are awaiting determination of pending cases or have another valid status. ”

This story will be updated.