U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should temporarily suspend non-emergency vehicle stops while investigators determine exactly what happened in the fatal ICE-related shooting in Biddeford, but argued that calls to abolish the agency would make the country less safe.
Collins made the remarks Thursday during an appearance on Maine’s Morning News with Ric. Tyler and Paul Wolfe on WVOM.
The senator said she spoke directly with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin following the Biddeford incident and recommended pausing routine vehicle stops until investigations into both the Maine shooting and a similar incident in Houston are complete.
“After the shooting in Biddeford, I called the Secretary of Homeland Security… and I suggested that there be a halt in vehicle stops until we sort out exactly what happened, until the investigation has been completed,” Collins said.
She said the two recent shootings indicate the need for additional training and better accountability measures for ICE agents, including expanded use of body-worn cameras.
Collins: Government Shutdown Delayed ICE Camera Funding
Collins also discussed federal funding she helped secure for ICE reforms, including $20 million for body-worn cameras, $2 million for de-escalation training, and a 17 percent increase in funding for the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
According to Collins, Homeland Security Secretary Mullin told her that a partial government shutdown delayed the awarding of contracts needed to purchase and distribute body cameras nationwide.
“I talked to Secretary Mullin and I said, ‘Why aren’t the body-worn cameras being paid for our ICE agents yet?’ He said it was because the government shutdown prevented the award of the contract,” Collins said.
The senator said bipartisan negotiations had already included the funding, but she argued Democrats ultimately walked away from additional negotiations that would have expanded safeguards.
Among the proposed measures Collins highlighted were prohibiting ICE arrests on school property, at school bus stops, and in healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices.
She also said the Trump administration had proposed increasing funding for body-worn cameras by an additional $100 million beyond the original appropriation.
Collins blamed Democrats for failing to complete negotiations.
“The Democrats’ failure to complete the negotiation and take yes for an answer has certainly contributed to the problem,” she said.
Rejects Calls to Abolish ICE
During the interview, Collins responded to recent calls, including remarks from Gov. Janet Mills, to either significantly reform or abolish ICE.
While acknowledging reforms are needed, Collins said eliminating the agency would jeopardize critical law enforcement operations far beyond immigration enforcement.
She pointed to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division within ICE that investigates human trafficking, child exploitation, international financial crimes, drug trafficking, and weapons smuggling.
“Do we really want to bring all of that important work… to a halt?” Collins asked.
She argued ICE plays a key role in combating international cartels and organized crime while protecting vulnerable victims.
“To abolish ICE would make our country far less safe,” Collins said. “That doesn’t mean that we don’t need further reforms…we do.”
Unconcerned About Democratic Opponent
Turning to the 2026 U.S. Senate race, Collins said she is unconcerned about which Democrat ultimately emerges from the party’s ongoing replacement process following Graham Platner’s withdrawal.
“It doesn’t [matter],” Collins said. “I’m used to having tough races.”
She predicted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and national Democratic groups will heavily support whichever candidate wins the party’s special nominating convention.
Collins also criticized recent television advertisements targeting her, saying independent fact-checkers found them to be false.
Campaign Reports Strong Fundraising
Collins said she is encouraged by her campaign’s latest fundraising numbers, reporting approximately $5.7 million raised and nearly $11 million cash on hand, roughly double what her campaign held at the same point during her 2020 reelection campaign.
She credited tens of thousands of donors from Maine and across the country while noting she expects outside Democratic groups will again spend heavily against her campaign, as they did during her last Senate race.
Looking Forward to Time at Camp
The interview concluded on a lighter note when Tyler asked Collins whether she would have time to visit her camp this summer with her dog, Pepper.
Collins said she has only spent one night there so far because of her schedule.
“Pepper instantly jumped out of the car and went swimming,” Collins said. “She loves it up there as much as I do.”
The senator added that she hopes to spend more time at camp later this summer, calling it “the place I’d rather be.”
