Maine is facing turmoil after ICE launched "Operation Catch of the Day" on January 21. The crackdown targets "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens," says the Trump administration. But residents say it has caused pain, fear, and chaos in the largely white state. Senator Susan Collins, running for re-election, said she asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to end the operation and was told it had stopped. However, locals and workers report ICE is still active and creating an atmosphere like an "occupation." Matt Schlobohm of the Maine AFL-CIO said, "You can’t turn a tiger into a vegetarian." Workers accuse ICE of racial profiling. Nurse Kelli Brennan told how ICE officers harassed her and a coworker who is a naturalized US citizen. Brennan said, "ICE is still in town. They’re just blending in better. I don’t necessarily believe what Susan Collins says." Other stories include a father detained en route to the hospital and a mother of four arrested despite a pending asylum claim. Derek Ellis witnessed ICE agents detaining a US citizen at a grocery store, calling it racial profiling. Local unions say many workers are afraid to leave their homes, hurting Maine’s economy. Todd Chretien, a teacher and organizer, said, "Thousands of workers have been sheltering in place, and hundreds of people have been detained." The Department of Homeland Security defended the arrests but denied racial profiling. They said, "Allegations that ICE engages in ‘racial profiling’ are disgusting, reckless and categorically false." DHS did not confirm if the operation had ended. The political stakes are high: Collins' seat is vital for Republicans to keep Senate control. Democrats running against her have criticized ICE’s harsh tactics. A recent poll shows Collins is one of the most unpopular senators. Graham Platner said, "An agency that has abducted people bringing their newborns home is not welcome in Maine." The immigration crackdown continues to ignite fierce debate and unrest as the midterm elections approach.