Immigration crackdown in Maine is prime challenge in battle for key Senate seat : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2F18%2F4eb0cdca4393927a728b8c1d6c61%2Fgettyimages-2257434624.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2F18%2F4eb0cdca4393927a728b8c1d6c61%2Fgettyimages-2257434624.jpg" class="img" alt="Demonstrators holding signs and wearing winter clothing attend an anti-ICE rally in Lewiston, Maine, on January 24." fetchpriority="high"/> Demonstrators attend an anti-ICE rally in Lewiston, Maine, on Jan. 24. On Jan. 21, federal immigration authorities from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a brand new enforcement operation in Maine referred to as Operation Catch of the Day, geared toward figuring out and arresting undocumented immigrants. Joseph Prezioso/AFP through Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Joseph Prezioso/AFP through Getty Pictures As the one Republican senator up for reelection in a state that did not again Donald Trump in 2024, Maine Sen. Susan Collins was already thought-about one of many GOP's most weak incumbents headed into the midterms.

Then got here an immigration enforcement surge final month focusing on a few of Maine's largest and most numerous communities.

Division of Homeland Safety officers stated the surge — dubbed Operation Catch of the Day in an obvious pun on Maine's fishing heritage — would goal "the worst of the worst." However eyewitness reviews, cellphone movies and information reviews urged the masked, closely armed brokers have been taking a wider attain.

A civil engineer and up to date College of Maine graduate from Colombia with a piece allow was arrested throughout his morning commute. Two asylum-seekers legally working at county jails have been detained. A month-old child was showered by glass after brokers broke a automotive window to snag his father, an immigrant with no legal report.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4374x2916+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F91%2F91%2F1992c2c54030aa048aa6af31a8b6%2Fgettyimages-2258541127.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4374x2916+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F91%2F91%2F1992c2c54030aa048aa6af31a8b6%2Fgettyimages-2258541127.jpg" class="img" alt="Senator Susan Collins enters the U.S. Capitol on January 27." loading="lazy"/> Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, enters the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 27. Collins introduced her plan to run for a sixth time period on Feb. 10. Heather Diehl/Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Heather Diehl/Getty Pictures In stepped Collins.

"I referred to as Secretary [Kristi] Noem as a result of I used to be very involved about what I used to be listening to from constituents and seeing in information reviews and ... it additionally struck me that the time period that was getting used, 'Catch of the Day,' was extremely offensive," Collins informed Maine Public Radio final week. "I informed her that I felt that ICE officers had gone too far — that they weren't specializing in people who find themselves right here illegally and had legal information."

A virtually 30-year Senate veteran, Collins holds arguably some of the influential positions in Congress as chair of the budget-writing Senate Appropriations Committee. In that function, Collins tried final month to barter a funding deal for the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), which incorporates Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

At the moment, Collins stated, she "saved pushing [Noem] to droop and stop the improved operations within the state of Maine — and she or he agreed to take action in response to my request."

Though immigration brokers proceed to function within the border state, the extremely seen enforcement surge appeared to subside after Collins spoke with Noem. However the senator's critics again house aren't giving her the credit score.

"Susan Collins did not make that occur," stated Graham Platner, an oysterman, Marine Corps veteran and Democrat whose progressive Senate marketing campaign has attracted large crowds because the summer season.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcb%2F17%2F345ed7454bd3ad112554927e4996%2Fgettyimages-2242325826.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcb%2F17%2F345ed7454bd3ad112554927e4996%2Fgettyimages-2242325826.jpg" class="img" alt="Standing in front of a microphone, U.S. senatorial candidate Graham Platner of Maine speaks at a town hall on October 22, 2025, in Ogunquit, Maine." loading="lazy"/> U.S. senatorial candidate Graham Platner of Maine speaks at a city corridor on Oct. 22, 2025, in Ogunquit, Maine. Platner, a Marine Corps veteran, oyster farmer and Democrat, is operating for the seat held by Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Sophie Park/Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Sophie Park/Getty Pictures Platner argued that the true motive ICE and DHS diminished their presence in Maine is communities organized in opposition to them. In actual fact, Platner blamed Collins for the present scenario as a result of, he stated, she may have used her affect over federal funding to power the Trump administration to alter its techniques.

"I imply, she's executed completely nothing to cease ICE," Platner stated. "She has executed completely nothing to attempt to rein within the habits of the Trump administration during the last 12 months. "

Platner's chief opponent within the June Democratic main, two-term Gov. Janet Mills, has additionally made ICE and the immigration crackdown a key marketing campaign challenge.

Throughout her State of the State tackle, delivered a number of days into the enforcement surge, Mills accused the Trump administration of "stoking worry in our communities ... and arresting individuals not on public security grounds however based mostly on quotas, on pores and skin colour, on accents, on faith, on ethnic origin."

"We is not going to be intimidated — we is not going to be silenced," Mills stated. "And to anybody outdoors these halls, together with any federal officers, I say, 'Should you search to hurt Maine individuals, you'll have to undergo me first.'"

As legal professional normal and now governor, Mills as soon as had a seemingly pleasant working relationship with Collins. However now, the reasonable Democrat routinely portrays Collins as being unwilling to face as much as President Trump.

"Proper now, she's voting to fund ICE — to proceed to fund ICE with none requirements, with none substantive controls, with none accountability," Mills informed reporters final week. "The individuals of this nation need accountability."

Democratic teams are focusing on Collins with the identical message. A gaggle tied to Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, who has endorsed Mills, is spending greater than $2 million on tv and digital advertisements in Maine hitting Collins on the difficulty of ICE and DHS funding.

Collins' marketing campaign has referred to as these advertisements "false and deliberately deceptive." Collins additionally identified that the Republican-backed model of the DHS price range invoice nonetheless stalled in Congress incorporates about $20 million for physique cameras and de-escalation coaching for ICE brokers. The company is presently shut down as Democrats demand broader reforms inside ICE, similar to prohibiting masked brokers, earlier than approving funding.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F01%2F914301b2481b82b4746ffad64b21%2Fgettyimages-2219759299.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5568x3712+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F01%2F914301b2481b82b4746ffad64b21%2Fgettyimages-2219759299.jpg" class="img" alt="Seated behind a microphone, Maine Gov. Janet Mills speaks during a moderated discussion among Northeast governors and Canadian premiers on the impacts of President Trump's tariffs, in Boston on June 16, 2025." loading="lazy"/> Maine Gov. Janet Mills speaks throughout a moderated dialogue amongst Northeast governors and Canadian premiers on the impacts of President Trump's tariffs, in Boston on June 16, 2025. Joseph Prezioso/AFP through Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Joseph Prezioso/AFP through Getty Pictures In an interview, Collins stated it "stays to be seen" whether or not Trump's insurance policies will likely be a think about her reelection bid.

"However I'm operating on my report of independence," Collins stated. "I help the president as I've each different president that I've labored with once I suppose he's proper. I oppose them once I suppose he's fallacious."

The Collins marketing campaign's repeated use of the phrase "independence" is strategic. Practically one-third of Maine voters are independents, or unaffiliated, making them the second-largest voting block after Democrats. These independents have been essential to Collins' previous victories, together with in 2020 when she defeated a better-funded Democrat by 9 proportion factors.

However Dan Shea, a professor of presidency at Colby Faculty and a longtime political observer in Maine, identified that independents accounted for roughly 40% of Maine voters a number of many years in the past. Shea stated that shift has largely benefited the Democratic Occasion.

"It is a blue state, but it surely's turning into extra deeply blue," Shea stated. "In order that's an enormous challenge for the senator. She wins by split-ticket voters, by unaffiliated voters, independents. And that pool is getting smaller."

Shea stated Collins will doubtless marketing campaign arduous on her potential to deliver house cash as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The spending bundle handed by Congress final month incorporates greater than $300 million in "congressionally directed spending" for Maine that was requested by Collins.

However the greater headwinds dealing with Collins and different Republicans, Shea stated, is what he tasks will likely be a large turnout this fall by Democrats motivated by their anger over Trump's insurance policies — with immigration probably topping that record.

"I believe her affiliation with the Republicans in Washington goes to harm her in Maine," Shea stated. "I believe she's the underdog. She might win — she's an excellent campaigner. Once more, she's identified throughout the state. However one factor's for certain: I believe it'll be depraved tight."