PORTLAND, Maine – Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, sharply criticized Sen. Susan Collins on Thursday during a protest outside her Portland office, accusing her of misleading the public about federal immigration enforcement and failing to represent the interests of Maine residents.
The protest of roughly 75 demonstrators gathered on Middle Street outside Collins’ office in the wake of Collins’ recent announcement that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had ended what the Department of Homeland Security described as “enhanced activities” in Maine.
Collins said the update came directly from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, adding that there were no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations in the state.
Platner said he did not believe those assurances and argued that statements from the Trump administration and federal law enforcement agencies could not be trusted without what he described as “material changes” on the ground.
“I don’t take the word from an administration that continues to break the law,” Platner said. “I don’t take the word from an administration that continues to stop constitutional rights. We need to see material changes.”
Platner accused Collins of citing Noem’s assurances in order to justify supporting billions of dollars in additional funding for immigration enforcement as part of broader federal budget negotiations. He argued that Collins should instead oppose increased funding for DHS and ICE and seek to remove immigration enforcement funding from larger spending bills.
“Right now Susan Collins is trying to justify giving ICE $9 billion more,” Platner said. “Instead of representing her constituents and protecting the people of Maine, she’s willing to fund an agency that is harming our communities.”
During his remarks, Platner alleged that recent immigration enforcement actions in Maine have affected individuals without criminal records, including people he said were legally present in the United States and employed in essential jobs. He claimed that enforcement actions have disrupted families and livelihoods, including cases involving parents and workers connected to law enforcement agencies, though he did not provide documentation during the protest.
Platner framed the issue as part of a broader failure of political leadership, accusing Collins of prioritizing federal agencies over Maine residents.
“The people of Maine see what she is doing,” he said. “We know that she is not representing our interests.”
The protest emphasized grassroots organizing and community action, with Platner urging supporters not to credit elected officials for any reductions in immigration enforcement activity if they occur. Instead, he argued that sustained public pressure and organizing were responsible for pushing back against federal actions.
“When this is over, do not let those in power tell you that they got it for you,” Platner said. “It was our work. It was organized communities, activists, and people showing up.”
Platner referenced recent demonstrations in other states, including Minnesota, as examples of what he described as successful community resistance. He argued that reliance on institutions or legal processes alone was insufficient at a time when, he claimed, the federal government itself was violating the law.
“It is not institutions that will save us,” Platner said. “It is not the law that is going to save us when the federal government is breaking the law.”
Despite freezing temperatures and short notice, Platner pointed to the size of the crowd as evidence of growing public opposition to immigration enforcement policies and what he described as increasing solidarity among activists.
“Look around you,” he said. “It is freezing cold, and we planned this just hours ago. This is what power looks like. This is what solidarity looks like.”
Collins has said that while enhanced ICE operations have ended, routine enforcement will continue in Maine. Her office has not responded directly to Platner’s accusations or the protest outside her Portland office.
Platner is seeking to challenge Collins, a five-term Republican senator, as part of what he described as a broader effort to oppose federal immigration enforcement policies and reshape political leadership in Maine.
After his speech, Platner spoke with the Maine Wire and indicated he had no faith in assurances made to the state of Maine from the Trump administration. “At a time where we have seen this administration ignoring legal orders, for instance, like to release the Epstein files, which we are now 40 days past. I do not take their word at things,” he said.
Platner suggested that Susan Collins had fallen for a Kristi Noem “pinky promise.”
Here is the video of his full speech:
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="50053 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=50053">1 Comment
What a LOSER. Their moto should be “WE LOVE AND PROTECT OUR CHILD MOLSTERS”