Maine Democrats are responding to a recent fatal shooting by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the state, seeking to connect Republican Senator Susan Collins to the agency. The incident occurred on Monday, resulting in the death of a 26-year-old Colombian national. This marks the first ICE-related fatality in Maine and follows a series of similar incidents across the country since President Donald Trump's immigration policies were enacted.
The agents involved in the shooting were not equipped with body cameras, and officials stated that the victim was not the target of their investigation. The shooting has prompted significant backlash from Democrats, particularly in light of the recent resignation of their Senate nominee, Graham Platner, due to sexual assault allegations. Platner has denied the allegations.
Democratic officials plan to select a replacement for Platner at a convention on July 25, as they aim to challenge Collins, who has held her Senate seat since 1997. During a press conference, Senate hopeful Nirav Shah criticized Collins for her oversight of ICE's budget, stating, "She’s got power, but she didn’t use it to rein in a rogue agency."
Collins, currently in Washington, responded to the shooting by urging the Department of Homeland Security to halt non-urgent vehicle stops until the investigation is complete. The incident has reignited discussions about Collins' support for funding ICE, with Democrats expressing hope that it will shift the focus from the Platner scandal to her record.
The shooting has also sparked protests in Maine, with demonstrators condemning Collins for her support of legislation that expands ICE funding. Activists have called for accountability and changes to the agency's operations, emphasizing the impact on immigrant communities. Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey referred to the shooting as "murder" and reiterated calls to abolish ICE.