Augusta, ME – New reporting by Maine Public this week shows that this year, as Susan Collins voted to give ICE $70 billion with no guardrails, Maine saw the third highest jump in the nation in ICE arrests of people with no criminal records. The data shows that “the state has also seen a notable increase in detentions over the summer,” well after Collins assured Mainers that ICE had ceased large scale operations in the state.

Misha Linnehan, spokesperson for the Maine Democratic Party, released the following statement:

“As ICE was terrorizing Maine communities and detaining Mainers with no criminal record, Susan Collins voted to give ICE $70 billion with no guardrails. Mainers deserve a Senator who will keep them safe, not one who will lavish an out-of-control, violent, and reckless agency with billions more in funding.”

Just one month before ICE killed a man in Biddeford without a body camera recording, Collins voted to give ICE $70 billion with no guardrails and against an amendment that would have required agents to wear active body cameras. Following the shooting, Collins faced immense pressure and protest from Mainers for her failure to hold ICE accountable.