Senator Collins says ICE ended its large-scale operations in Maine after talks with Noem

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said Thursday that immigration officials have halted their “enhanced operations” in the state, which has seen increased enforcement and more than 200 arrests since last week.

Collins, a Republican, made the announcement after saying she had several direct calls with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Read more: “We are being intimidated.” What Mainers see when ICE launches operations in the state

“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 persuade ICE to reconsider its approach to enforcing the state’s immigration laws.”

The announcement came after President Donald Trump appeared to indicate he was willing to ease tensions in Minneapolis following a second deadly shooting by federal immigration agents.

Collins said US Immigration, Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officials “will continue their normal operations that have been ongoing here for many years.”

Her announcement came more than a week after immigration officers began an operation ICE dubbed “Catch of the Day.” Federal officials said about 50 people were arrested on the first day, and that nearly 1,400 people were operational targets in the rural state of 1.4 million, 4% of whom were foreign-born.

Read more: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing mounting calls for her removal or removal

By late last week, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin noted that some of the arrests were of people “convicted of horrific crimes including aggravated assault, false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of children.” However, court records painted a slightly different story, revealing that while some were violent criminals, others were detained and unresolved immigration proceedings or were arrested but not convicted of any crime.

Collins, a veteran senator, is up for re-election this year. Unlike a handful of Republican senators facing potentially difficult campaigns, Collins has not called for Noem to step down or be fired. She also avoided criticizing ICE’s tactics, other than to say that people who are in the country legally should not be the target of ICE investigations.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who announced her Senate bid last October and may face Collins in the general election, has asked immigration officials to provide warrants, real-time arrest numbers and basic information about detainees in Maine. Collins also called for action after the House GOP majority defeated Democratic efforts to limit funding for ICE.

Mills’ office did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment from the governor on Collins’ announcement.

Meanwhile, first-time Democratic candidate Graham Blatner — who is running against Mills in the primary — criticized Mills and Collins’ handling of ICE and called for the agency to be dismantled. On Thursday, Blattner held a protest outside Collins’ office in Portland, Maine, where dozens of his supporters carried signs and sang with him.

Blattner said he would host a separate protest later outside Collins’ office in Bangor, Maine.

Croci reported from Providence, Rhode Island. Associated Press writer Cathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.