U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) requested a temporary suspension of non-urgent traffic stops by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a fatal shooting by an agency officer in Biddeford, Maine, on July 13. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin initially agreed to the request pending an investigation into the incident.
The policy shift was countered by President Donald Trump, who stated on social media that ICE should continue using traffic stops as a law enforcement tool. Following the president's comments, Collins reiterated her position on Wednesday, stating that the stops should be halted until the investigation into the fatal shooting is completed.
The incident occurs during a shifting landscape for the Maine Senate race. Democratic nominee Graham Platner withdrew from the contest on July 10 following allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied. The Maine Democratic Party is currently in the process of selecting a replacement nominee from a pool of 13 candidates.
Campaign finance filings released Wednesday show that Senator Collins raised over $4 million between April and June. Her campaign reported having $11 million in cash on hand as of July 1. Collins has served in the Senate since 1997 and is the only Republican senator seeking reelection this year in a state won by Kamala Harris in 2024.