Senator Susan Collins Announces End to Major ICE Raids in Maine/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Senator Susan Collins announced that federal immigration authorities have ended large-scale ICE operations in Maine. The decision follows a surge of arrests and community backlash, along with discussions between Collins and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Critics continue to demand transparency about detainees and the legal basis for the arrests.
ICE Operations in Maine Quick Looks
- ICE Operations Halted: Senator Susan Collins confirms end of large-scale raids
- Key Conversation: Collins spoke with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
- Background: Operation “Catch of the Day” led to over 200 detentions
- Arrests Criticized: Community leaders say operations harmed public trust
- Court Conflicts: Arrest records show mix of serious charges and minor infractions
- Notable Case: Elmara Correia’s arrest questioned by family; no convictions cited
- Political Reactions: Collins avoids harsh ICE criticism; Mills demands transparency
- Election Context: Both Collins and Mills running for Senate in 2026
- Democratic Challenger: Graham Platner calls for ICE to be dismantled
- Ongoing Concerns: Public demands data on detainees and arrest justifications
Deep Look
Senator Susan Collins Says Large-Scale ICE Raids in Maine Have Ended Following Talks With DHS
PORTLAND, Maine — Federal immigration authorities have ended enhanced enforcement operations in Maine, following more than a week of aggressive raids and widespread criticism from local leaders and immigrant communities. The announcement came Thursday from Republican Senator Susan Collins, who said the decision was reached after discussions with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here,” Collins said in a statement. “I have been urging Secretary Noem and others in the administration to reconsider ICE’s approach in Maine.”
The enforcement surge, which began earlier this month, was part of an initiative dubbed “Catch of the Day,” targeting roughly 1,400 individuals across the largely rural state. Officials reported 50 arrests on the first day alone. The abrupt end to these large-scale operations comes amid rising political pressure and growing public concern over civil rights violations and lack of transparency.
Collins clarified that while the large-scale sweeps have ceased, routine operations by ICE and Border Patrol will continue.
Local Reaction and Fallout
In Lewiston, one of the areas most affected, Mayor Carl Sheline welcomed the decision, calling the raids “disastrous” and damaging to public safety.
“ICE operations in Maine have failed to improve public safety and have caused lasting damage to our communities,” Sheline said. “We will continue working to ensure that those wrongfully detained are returned.”
The Department of Homeland Security has not issued a formal comment in response to the halt or the senator’s statement.
Though Homeland Security officials have claimed that those arrested include individuals convicted of serious offenses like assault and endangering children, court records tell a more complex story. Many detainees reportedly have no criminal convictions, and several were in the U.S. legally or awaiting resolution of their immigration cases.
A Case in Point
One case raised by DHS involved Elmara Correia, identified as having been arrested previously for endangering the welfare of a child. However, her former partner, Manuel Vemba, disputed the characterization.
Vemba explained that a neighbor had reported their four-year-old son playing outside, prompting a police call, but no charges were brought. “She does not have any criminal record,” he said. “Elmara is a mother who has sacrificed everything for her child.”
He described her as hardworking, trustworthy, and completely devoted to their son, who is on the autism spectrum.
Vemba said he told his son, “Mommy’s traveling. Mommy will be back.” Correia was granted a bail hearing by a Massachusetts judge on Wednesday.
Election-Year Politics
Collins, who is up for reelection in 2026, has navigated the issue carefully. Unlike some of her GOP colleagues facing competitive races, she has not called for Noem’s resignation or condemned ICE’s tactics. Instead, she has urged moderation, stating ICE should not target those in the U.S. legally.
Her potential Democratic opponent, Governor Janet Mills, has taken a more aggressive stance. Mills, who announced her Senate candidacy last October, has demanded detailed information about the arrests, including names, legal justifications, and detainee locations.
“We still do not know critical details about the 200 individuals ICE says it has detained,” Mills said. “Many appear to be here legally, have no criminal records, and are not ‘the worst of the worst.’ The people of Maine deserve full transparency.”
Mills also faulted House Republicans for blocking efforts to reduce ICE funding and called on Collins to support congressional oversight of the agency.
Grassroots Pushback
First-time Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, who is challenging Mills in the primary, went further, calling for ICE to be dismantled entirely. He led a protest Thursday outside Senator Collins’ Portland office, where dozens of demonstrators carried signs and chanted calls for immigration reform.
Platner criticized both major candidates, accusing them of enabling federal overreach and inaction on civil liberties.
The halt in operations comes as the Trump administration faces growing scrutiny over its immigration enforcement practices, not only in Maine but in other cities like Minneapolis and Chicago. A pair of deadly shootings by ICE agents in Minnesota have intensified calls for reform and fueled national debates about the limits of federal authority.
As the political stakes rise, ICE’s actions in Maine could become a defining issue in the 2026 Senate race, forcing candidates to clarify their positions on immigration, law enforcement accountability, and civil rights.
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