Augusta, ME – Despite months of ICE raids in Maine and across the country that terrorized communities, Susan Collins voted repeatedly to fund ICE with no guardrails and voted against funding for bodycams. After last year providing a “key,” “pivotal vote” to fund Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill that massively funded ICE, she voted this year to provide them with $70 billion more in funding with no guardrails. Prior to voting for that additional funding, she also voted against an amendment that would have required ICE agents to wear body cameras.
Maine Democratic Party spokesperson Misha Linnehan released the following statement:
“As Susan Collins continues to try to play hero, Mainers won’t forget that she voted against body cameras and provided ICE with unprecedented levels of funding with no guardrails despite their lawless, violent behavior. Make no mistake—ICE has had a blank check to terrorize communities because Susan Collins gave it to them.”
READ MORE ABOUT HOW MAINERS ARE CALLING OUT COLLINS FOR VOTING FOR ICE FUNDING WITH NO GUARDRAILS:
Spectrum News: Anti-ICE protestors call out Susan Collins in Biddeford
State Sen. Henry Ingwerson (D-York) called Collins out for voting in April to spend $70 billion on ICE. Ingwerson noted that the funding bill did not include “guardrails” Democrats wanted, such as requiring ICE agents use body cameras, banning them from using masks, and requiring agents to identify themselves by name and badge number.
“There was no guardrails included and she still voted ‘yes’ on it,” he said. […]
The protestors urged Mainers to vote Collins out of office this fall, as she faces off against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.
NewsCenter Maine: Protesters rally outside Sen. Susan Collins’ Biddeford office over ICE funding, voting record
Protesters gathered outside U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office in Biddeford Tuesday, criticizing the Maine Republican’s voting record and calling on her to take further action on immigration enforcement. […]
Demonstrators drew parallels between what Collins has and hasn’t supported in recent votes. In June, Collins voted in favor of $70 billion for ICE.
Around one month later, an ICE agent shot and killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero during a traffic stop.
“$70 billion to fund the terror that left my family and community in fear,” Fernanda McLaughlin, a Maine resident and community organizer, said over the loudspeaker.
Maine Public: Protestors target Senator Susan Collins for voting to support $70 billion dollar ICE funding package
About one hundred protestors targeted Senator Susan Collins’ Biddeford office Tuesday to call her out for voting in support of a $70 billion dollar package to fund ICE and the Border Patrol this past spring.
Maine Morning Star: Biddeford protest targets Sen. Collins over ICE funding
“Collins has not done anything,” Da Silva said. “She has no accountability. No transparency. No transparency for the people that are … being terrorized.”
WGME: Protesters in Biddeford call for ICE to leave Maine, be abolished after deadly shooting
Earlier this year, Collins voted in favor of a $70 billion package to fund the Department of Homeland Security, arguing funding would allow for additional training and the purchase of body cameras.
WMTW: Protests continue in Biddeford a month after deadly ICE shooting
“I would like Susan Collins to be voted out, and I believe there’s a serious chance that she can be voted out this time,” said Benjamin Nelson, a Biddeford resident.
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