Federal immigration authorities have officially terminated their heightened enforcement operation in the state of Maine, according to a statement from a US senator. This development comes even as Donald Trump's appointed border czar, Tom Homan, has publicly committed to sustaining a significantly larger and more contentious enforcement campaign in Minnesota.
Maine Operation Concludes
Republican Senator Susan Collins confirmed on Thursday that the "enhanced operation" within her home state of Maine has been concluded. She cited a direct conversation with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as her source for this information. The operation, informally dubbed "Operation Catch of the Day," had been actively targeting immigrant communities in the cities of Portland and Lewiston.
Since its initiation last week, the surge led to the detention of more than 200 individuals. Most of those detained have reportedly already been transferred out of the state, raising significant concerns among their family members and legal representatives. These advocates fear that removal proceedings conducted outside of Maine could severely disadvantage the detainees.
"There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here," Senator Collins stated in a social media post. She added that she had been "urging" Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to reconsider their enforcement strategies. Both agencies will now revert to their standard, routine operations within the state.
Legal and Community Response
Local immigration attorneys have noted a marked decrease in enforcement activities. "We have noticed a dramatic downswing of enforcement [in Maine] since the week started," said Jenny Beverly, an attorney with Haven Immigration Law, who has been managing a surge of legal aid requests since the operation began.
Minnesota Operation Persists Amid Scrutiny
In stark contrast to the situation in Maine, the administration's enforcement push in Minnesota remains active. Tom Homan, now commanding the nation's most prominent immigration enforcement campaign, addressed the press in Minneapolis. He acknowledged shortcomings in the federal government's execution of its mission.
"I'm not here because the federal government has carried this mission out perfectly," Homan stated. His comments follow a period of intense national outrage sparked by the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, at the hands of federal agents within a two-week span.
Homan conceded that "certain improvements could and should be made" and asserted that implementing these changes is his current focus. He pledged to remain in Minnesota "until the problem's gone," though he provided no specific details on what these improvements might entail or how success would be measured.
Bipartisan Political Backlash
The administration's aggressive enforcement tactics have triggered a notable bipartisan backlash. This political pressure appears to be a factor in the reassessment of operations nationwide. The backlash includes public condemnations from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, with a group of 160 officials even calling for Secretary Noem's impeachment.
Large-scale public demonstrations against ICE have also erupted in several cities, including Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and New York. The political fallout in Minnesota has been particularly acute, influencing the decisions of several state politicians.
Chris Madel, a leading Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, announced he would no longer seek office, stating, "I cannot support the ... stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so." Similarly, incumbent Governor Tim Walz declared he would not run for any future elected office.
In a related political development, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar announced her candidacy for the Minnesota governorship on Thursday. The administration also recently removed border patrol commander Gregory Bovino from his post in Minneapolis, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to mitigate public criticism.
