Maine's Senate race is facing upheaval as Donald Trump and his administration apply pressure that could cost one of the most senior Republicans in Congress their seat. Senator Susan Collins, a five-term Republican, is seeking re-election, but this year she is running without Trump's endorsement. The president called her a "disaster" on Truth Social after she supported a War Powers resolution on Venezuela.
This week, Homeland Security officials confirmed a surge of ICE operations in Maine, dubbed "Operation Catch of the Day." The operation will target the Somali-American community in Lewiston and other locations, aiming to arrest 1,400 people. The move follows similar enforcement in Minnesota, where an ICE agent fatally shot a woman, sparking protests.
Democratic opponents, including Governor Janet Mills, have condemned the raids. Mills expressed concern that the operation would involve broad sweeps rather than targeting criminals. Independent Senator Angus King called the actions "the most dangerous assault on our economy, our democratic system, and our people since the Civil War" and pledged to vote against ICE funding.
Collins issued a nuanced statement, acknowledging that illegal immigrants who commit crimes could be subject to arrest, but urging body cameras and de-escalation training for ICE. She was absent from a press briefing with Mills and King on the issue. The controversy threatens to alienate moderate voters in a state that has trended Democratic in recent years.
