Senator Susan Collins said Immigration and Customs Enforcement performs "absolutely vital safety work" and urged improving the agency's performance after a recent ICE shooting in Biddeford, Maine. The Biddeford shooting has triggered protests outside Collins's office and intensified criticism from Democratic challengers, with commentators saying the fallout could reshape one of the closest Senate contests in 2026. Opponents and activists called for abolishing ICE and accused the agency of extrajudicial killings, unregulated violence, and racial profiling in posts criticizing Collins's defense. Multiple posts noted Collins was the deciding vote to fund ICE and blamed her for enabling the agency's actions. Collins defended the funding and blamed Democratic delays for holding up equipment such as body cameras, according to critics' accounts. The immediate consequences are sustained street protests in Maine, renewed attacks on Collins's record by Democrats, and continued calls from activists to remove ICE's authority.
