BANGOR, Maine — The Immigration Enforcement Saga Continues
The federal immigration crackdown in Maine may have drawn to a close, yet the political aftershocks are likely to resonate well into the 2026 election cycle.
On Friday, Democratic Governor Janet Mills unveiled her inaugural Senate campaign advertisement, targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with fervor. Meanwhile, political newcomer Graham Platner, also vying for the Democratic nomination, staged an anti-ICE protest outside Senator Susan Collins’ offices just a day earlier, urging her to halt funding for the agency.
The message from both candidates rings loud and clear: immigration enforcement is not just a fleeting issue, but a potential game-changer as they aim to unseat the state’s lone Republican senator, who happens to be running for re-election in a state that swung for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.
However, Collins’ announcement on Thursday that ICE would terminate its immigration enforcement operation in Maine—dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day” by the Department of Homeland Security—eased some of the mounting pressure within the state, eliciting relief from local leaders.
The operation had instilled fear within immigrant communities, while Democrats and activists seethed over the treatment of these vulnerable populations. The crackdown disrupted daily life across southern Maine, leading to diminished school attendance and legal immigrants apprehensive about going to work, with observers tailing ICE agents throughout the area.
As the dust settles following an operation that saw over 200 arrests and ignited widespread protests, lawmakers and community leaders are left to navigate the tumultuous landscape it has created. The political ramifications are still unfolding.
Collins’ declaration on Thursday morning, suggesting that her discussions with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem played a role in the decision, serves as a strategic move to foster her image as a pragmatic powerhouse who can deliver results—even if it means countering her own party. It also serves as a stark reminder of her argument that her seniority in Washington benefits Maine.
Nonetheless, buoyed by rapidly evolving public sentiment regarding immigration enforcement—especially following unsettling videos of violent arrests and two fatal shootings in Minneapolis—Democrats and activists are intensifying their calls for stricter regulations and funding cuts for ICE, demanding accountability for what transpired in Maine. They assert that the cessation of operations is merely a band-aid on a deeper wound.
“Senator Collins is going to attempt to manipulate this moment, claiming she influenced ICE’s decision,” Platner declared during protests at Collins’ Portland and Bangor offices shortly after the operation’s conclusion. He derided her assurances as a mere “pinky promise” from Noem, to raucous applause from dozens of supporters braving the chill in Bangor. “We know this is nonsense. What she’s really doing is preparing to justify a $9 billion funding increase for ICE.”
Platner, emphasizing the need for immediate action, urged Collins—who holds a key appropriations position in the Senate—to completely cut off ICE funding, arguing that the Trump administration cannot be trusted to act legally.
In contrast, Collins has advocated for a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill that Democrats recently blocked, which included provisions for body cameras for federal agents and de-escalation training. Negotiations in Washington are expected to persist, especially after lawmakers opted for a mere two-week stopgap. However, even if DHS funding is stalled, ICE remains well-financed due to the substantial budget approved last summer under Trump. Democrats are keen on leveraging public anger towards ICE to push for reforms.
Collins’ positioning places her somewhat at odds with the majority of Maine Republicans, who largely support federal immigration initiatives and accuse Mills and the Democrats of manufacturing conflict with law enforcement. Local Republican reactions to Collins’ announcement have been notably muted.
In an earlier interview, Mills criticized Collins’ calls for retraining ICE officers, remarking to POLITICO that the “horse was out of the barn already.” On Thursday, she deemed the drawdown of ICE operations insufficient and advocated for Noem’s removal from DHS, alongside congressional measures to suspend ICE funding until substantial reforms are implemented to prevent what she described as “abuses of power.”
“Until we have meaningful changes in place, no state—including Maine—is shielded from the potential misuse of federal law enforcement against its own citizens under the Trump administration,” she stated on Thursday.
Mills, alongside Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, a Democrat, dispatched a letter to Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons on Friday, demanding transparency regarding the individuals arrested in Maine and their current statuses.
Community leaders and lawmakers are striving to comprehend the practical implications of the drawdown, seeking answers about those detained by ICE and how to rebuild trust within immigrant communities that have largely been confined to their homes in recent weeks.
“This is reassuring news. ICE operations in Maine have failed to enhance public safety and have caused enduring harm to our communities,” asserted Carl Sheline, the mayor of Lewiston, home to a significant Somali American population and a city impacted heavily by ICE activity. “We will continue our efforts to ensure that those wrongfully detained by ICE are reinstated to our community.”
Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, a Democrat from Biddeford, recounted how among those detained by ICE was a man named Marcos, whom he had previously employed as a contractor on his home. Fecteau shared that he spoke to Marcos’ wife on Thursday, who informed him that he was at an ICE facility in Arizona just two days prior, yet the ICE database no longer reflected his whereabouts.
“In the past week and a half, individuals in Maine have been arrested and detained unlawfully. We demand clarity regarding their identities, locations, and the reasons for their detentions,” Fecteau insisted. “I trust that Senator Collins, who evidently possesses some influence—having spoken with Kristi Noem—was also addressing these concerns.”
On Thursday in Augusta, Maine lawmakers reviewed testimony concerning a bill that would mandate ICE to secure judicial warrants prior to conducting searches in private spaces such as schools and healthcare facilities.
Mills has lent her support to this new bill, citing the destabilizing effects of the recent surge as part of her rationale. This marks a significant shift for the former prosecutor, who faced criticism from progressives and Platner for not taking a firmer stance last year when she allowed a bill that limited law enforcement cooperation with ICE to become law without her signature.
Activists and observers trailing ICE operations in Maine noted a visible decrease in ICE agents’ activity on Thursday, reflective of the drawdown.
“It’s positive news. I hope it holds true. We all deserve peace and respite in the coming days,” remarked Eric Nathanson, an activist with Jewish Action Maine, who was arrested alongside fellow faith leaders during protests at Collins’ Portland office earlier in the week. “If the surge is indeed paused, we reiterate our demand for zero additional funding even more emphatically.”
However, the harrowing images and experiences from the previous week remain indelibly etched in memory.
“In the past week, three individuals were forcibly taken from in front of my workplace. My colleagues witnessed an ICE agent assault and drag individuals from their vehicles,” Nathanson recounted. “We will remain vigilant and steadfast.”
