At 6 a.m., Jan. 29, U.S. Senator Collins circulated a news release saying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ceased its enhanced operations in Maine.

"The announcement comes after several direct communications between Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Senator Collins," here release said.

 She also said: “While the Department of Homeland Security does not confirm law enforcement operations, I can report that Secretary Noem has informed me that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in the State of Maine. There are currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations here. I have been urging Secretary Noem and others in the Administration to get ICE to reconsider its approach to immigration enforcement in the state. I appreciate the Secretary's willingness to listen to and consider my recommendations and her personal attention to the situation in Maine. ICE and Customs and Border Patrol will continue their normal operations that have been ongoing here for many years. I will continue to work with the Secretary on efforts to end illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and other transnational criminal activity.”

At 12:17 p.m., Governor Janet Mills issued the following:

"The reported end of ICE's 'enhanced operation' in Maine does not end the pain and suffering that they have inflicted on communities across our state -- people who have been terrorized, mothers who have been separated from their children, businesses who have been threatened, all by their own government.

"We still do not know critical details about the 200 individuals ICE says it has detained, many of whom appear to be here legally, who have no criminal record and who are not 'the worst of the worst.' The people of Maine deserve to know the identities of every person taken from here, the legal justification for doing so, where they are being held, and what the Federal government's plan for them are.

"This operation and the tactics of Federal agents across the nation - including the killing of two American citizens in Minnesota - demand accountability from Congress. That begins with removing Kristi Noem — which multiple Republicans have now called for — and Congress rejecting the Department of Homeland Security funding bill until there are measures in place that prohibit ICE's lawless, dangerous conduct and their abuses of power, which are entirely contrary to good law enforcement practices and standards. Until there are substantive measures and changes in place, no state, including Maine, is protected from the weaponization of Federal law enforcement agencies against its own citizens by the Trump Administration."

"I am incredibly proud of the people of Maine who defended our values and who supported those who were afraid to leave their homes, as well as the small businesses who supported and fought to protect the rights of their employees and their families."

"Governor Mills has been leading in fighting against the Administration:

• "In her state of the state address just days ago, Governor Mills said: "We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. And to anyone outside these halls, including any Federal officials, I say: if you seek to harm Maine people, you will have to go through me first."
• "Governor Mills requested a meeting with Donald Trump to demand ICE leave Maine.
• "Governor Mills called on Congress to remove Secretary Kristi Noem from her position.
• "Governor Mills urged the Senate to reject the Department of Homeland Security funding bill until there are substantive measures in place to stop ICE's lawless, dangerous conduct.
• "Governor Mills called on Congress to curtail funding for ICE until they stop their aggressive tactics.