• Sen. Susan Collins announces the end of ICE's enhanced operations in Maine.
• The announcement follows intense scrutiny and local protests against immigration enforcement.
• Over 200 arrests occurred during ICE's surge in enforcement activities.
• Collins urged a reconsideration of ICE's approach to immigration enforcement in the state.
• Local leaders express relief while calling for the return of wrongfully detained individuals.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine has announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has officially ceased its "enhanced activities" in the state. Collins revealed this development after a discussion with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, stating that currently, "there are no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here," according to CBS News, Business Insider, and Los Angeles Times.

The statement comes amid significant backlash against ICE's recent operations, which reportedly involved more than 200 arrests over a brief period. Collins has consistently advocated for a reassessment of ICE's strategies in the region. "I have been urging Secretary Noem and others in the Administration to get ICE to reconsider its approach to immigration enforcement in the state," Collins emphasized, as reported by CBS News and Business Insider.

This announcement follows local protests against ICE's practices, particularly after reports of serious incidents involving the agency. In addition, Collins noted that ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue their standard enforcement operations, which have been established over many years. The operations named "Catch of the Day" resulted in high-profile detentions that were and remain the subject of scrutiny from local leaders and community members, according to Los Angeles Times.

Local mayors, such as Carl Sheline of Lewiston, expressed relief at the cancellation of large-scale ICE operations, describing them as "disastrous" and ineffective in improving public safety. Sheline highlighted that many of those detained were individuals who did not pose a safety threat, aligning with Collins' assertions about the nature of ICE's recent actions, as detailed by CBS News, Business Insider, and Los Angeles Times.