People protest against ICE in Lewiston, Maine, on 24 January 2026. oseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty ImagesPeople protest against ICE in Lewiston, Maine, on 24 January 2026. oseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty ImagesICE ends surge in Maine as border czar pledges to keep operation in MinnesotaTom Homan acknowledges immigration enforcement needs ‘certain improvements’, without offering any details US politics live – latest updates Federal authorities have ended their immigration enforcement surge in Maine, a state senator said on Thursday, even as Donald Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan insisted that the much bigger operation in Minnesota would continue. Susan Collins, a Republican, cited a conversation with the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, that the “enhanced operation” in her state of Maine had been wrapped up. Nicknamed “Operation Catch of the Day”, it has targeted communities in Portland and Lewiston and led to the detention of more 200 people since last week. Most have already been removed from the state, sparking concerns among family members and attorneys who fear that the detainees will face greater odds of removal outside of Maine.“There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here,” Collins said in a social media post, adding that she had been “urging” the agency to reconsider its approach to enforcement, and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Customs and Border Protection would continue their “normal operations”.“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 fielding legal aid requests since the ICE surge began. Senate fails to pass funding bill after Democrats refuse to back DHS fundingRead moreNoem’s apparent decision to end the Maine enforcement push comes as the administration appears to be reassessing its activity nationwide following public rebukes from Republican and Democratic lawmakers – including 160 officials calling for her impeachment.
